Winter Park Commission votes down comp plan changes

A flurry of yellow “no density” signs filled the City Commission chambers Monday afternoon as more than 140 Winter Park residents made their voices heard against increased development. And all of them left with smiles as the City Commission unanimously voted not to pass a potentially controversial change to the comprehensive plan.

The amendment would have allowed planned developments – larger, mixed-use projects – to be constructed on any four lane road outside the box of Fairbanks, Interlachen, Pennsylvania and Webster avenues.

The City Commission reasoned that the city should hold off on looking at planned development until their upcoming visioning process, expected to take between nine and 12 months.

That period would “set the tone for future development in the city,” according to city staff’s recommendation.

“This has been an interesting discussion,” Mayor Ken Bradley said following the vote. “There needs to be peace and calm and we need to listen to our citizens – that’s certainly all that went into my thinking.”

Residents applauded the City Commission’s decision, but that doesn’t mean the density signs are coming down just yet.

“We still have to be vigilant,” resident Marty Sullivan said.