Moratorium OK'd

The Maitland City Council approved a scaled back version of the ordinance that will keep drive-throughs from being built in the city's downtown area until an impact study is completed.

The moratorium will be six months with the maximum of a four-month extension, not one year with an indefinite extension, as it was originally written.

The motion made by Councilman Phil Bonus was approved 4-0. Councilman Jeff Flowers, who had been fervently opposed to the moratorium, was absent.

The 90-day study will determine how drive-thru facilities, such as banks and fast food restaurants, will affect the city's planned pedestrian-friendly downtown.

Councilwoman Bev Reponen said the study needs to focus on not just existing drive-thrus but on particular streets. "We have to decide whether we are going to use (U.S. Highway) 17-92 as a pedestrian-friendly street or not," she said.

Planning and Zoning Commissioner and City Councilman-elect Howard Schieferdecker (he is running unopposed for Flowers' seat) said the city needs to be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to design standards.

"For example, Independence Lane should not be having drive-thrus there because that's going to be our … main pedestrian traffic flow," Schieferdecker said.

He said he doesn't think the new downtown will come as a $300 million project spearheaded by one developer but that it will be split up into the hands of many developers.

"We need to look at design criteria and try to make this a cohesive downtown," he said.

Maitland resident Dr. Mark Round said he didn't think the moratorium is necessary.

"It's marvelous that we're going to get information to help the city grow," Round said. "Since we can do [the study] so quickly I really recommend doing it without the moratorium."