Winter Park approves new comprehensive plan

Winter Park has set its direction for the next seven years. 

City commissioners officially updated Winter Park’s comprehensive plan on Monday, revising a document that outlines the goals and direction of the city for years to come. 

The entire plan was updated for the first time since February 2009, meeting a requirement under Florida statue that it be updated every seven years. It serves as the city’s handbook regarding everything from transportation and land use to public facilities and conservation. 

“We do an update to look at our data and analysis — we make sure that it’s current,” Planning and Community Development Director Dori Stone said. “We also make sure that the plan conforms with rules and regulations that the legislature puts in place. We also get a chance to look at concerns and issues raised over that seven-year period.” 

Some of the proposed revisions include the city creating a “mobility plan” that takes into account residents who walk and bike throughout the community. The tentative plan now puts a greater emphasis on planning, funding and constructing a network of bike trails and facilities. 

The city solidifies new measures regarding transportation safety under the new plan as well, requiring the police department to give crash reports each quarter to the Florida Department of Transportation and city staff. That information will be studied in the hope of making roads safer. 

Transportation convenience is also a factor, as the comprehensive plan calls for the city to invest in a website and smart phone app with useful services for bike riders, pedestrians and drivers, including real-time information on parking.  

As for future land use, a policy was added to encourage more redevelopment along the north side of Fairbanks Avenue. The lots along that side of the street are shallow, making them difficult locations to build something of greater size. The policy states the city shall consider parcels to the north of those lots be considered for parking to help save space — as long as the parking is buffered by walls and landscaping near residential homes. 

“We have significant dollars invested in the West Fairbanks corridor,” Planning and Community Development Manager Jeff Briggs said. “In terms of our gateway to the city, we’ve been promoting redevelopment along that corridor.”  

The comprehensive plan also defines a new district surrounding Winter Park Memorial Hospital that will be known as the Medical Arts District. The plan prohibits any residential uses other than nursing homes and memory care facilities from being built in that district. 

Arts and culture are recognized in the comprehensive plan as well. Cultural events such as art festivals in the city now will be studied for their economic impact on shopping and tourism, while artistic and cultural nonprofits will be studied for their economic value, an effort to “ensure their continued longevity.” 

Residents both applauded and cringed at some of the changes made to the comprehensive plan. 

Many residents were concerned with the removal of the word “village” throughout several portions of the document in reference to the city’s character. 

“Where have all the ‘villages’ gone?” resident Donna Colado said. “It is my hope that a village ambience will always be what distinguishes, as well as defines, our central business district, and that we would put that into words in our comp plan.” 

After several comments from residents, commissioners voted to add the word ‘village’ into the description of the central business district. 

“’Village’ does make people feel good,” City Commissioner Sarah Sprinkel said. “That’s what we heard tonight. If it makes people feel that good, let’s make people feel that good.” 

Resident Robert Trompke thanked the City Commission for prohibiting residential development in the Medical Arts District. 

“I think we have enough density as it is,” he said. “We all know our roads are suffering from congestion and our schools are overcrowded.”