Ocoee leaders endorse plan to guide growth

OCOEE – City leaders have readied a document detailing the city’s goals and objectives, along with recommended policy changes, called the Evaluation and Appraisal Report.

According to state law, every jurisdiction must evaluate its progress in meeting the goals and policies outlined in its current comprehensive plan and then determine what, if any, changes are required.

During the April 4 Ocoee City Commission meeting, city staff presented the resulting report to the city mayor and commissioners for its first reading as ordinance 2017-03. Commissioners gave their unanimous approval to transmit the report to the Department of Economic Opportunity for official review.

According to the EAR, the proposed main goals are to promote an economic strategy that paves the way for more business creation; enhance the city’s character, identity and livability through neighborhood planning programs that establish planning policies and guidelines for growth; and develop a transportation system that supports Ocoee’s character and satisfies residents’ desired quality of life.

To fulfill those goals, staff identified issues the city could target with revisions, which included community character and design, conservation, neighborhood revitalization, utility infrastructure, transportation connectivity and mixed-use employment and commercial centers.

To promote an economic development program, the report details policies intended to enhance the continued use of intergovernmental collaboration and tax incentives, as well as a streamlined review and permitting process for the types of businesses the city targets.

To preserve its unique community character, staff suggested the creation of standard design guidelines and zoning regulations that promote a more urban style of development within the city’s community redevelopment and historic downtown areas. 

To accomplish such a task, the city advised focusing on the creation of neighborhood and area-wide planning programs that implement a more community-based neighborhood planning process, an integrated street network, a more sustainable mix of land uses, public gathering places, pedestrian-oriented character and human-scale aesthetics.

Lastly, the city recommended transportation that accommodates a more multimodal transportation network with intersection improvements and bicycle and pedestrian designated facilities via coordination with Orange County, Metroplan Orlando, the Florida Department of Transportation and other municipalities.

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Contact Gabby Baquero at [email protected].