Maitland approves split-lot duplexes

Maitland City Council tackled a number of municipal issues, including split duplexes, park improvements, new board appointments and more during a lengthy meeting Monday, Jan. 28. 

Conjoined Dwellings Approved

Council members spent nearly an hour finalizing the language on an ordinance allowing split duplex dwellings within the city of Maitland. The ordinance, which has been 

revised by the city’s Planning and Zoning Board and was introduced by the council in the first January meeting of the year, amends the Maitland city code to allow property owners to split duplex laws for fee simple ownerships. 

Both the council and the planning board have been concerned as to what extent the city of Maitland should be involved in a dispute between two property owners in a split duplex. 

The split-lot agreement originally included a declaration of covenants and restrictions that had a payment mechanism for shared maintenance and repair, designated common areas, and insurance and development rights. But the covenant agreement also would have to be first reviewed and approved by the city’s attorney to ensure there are basic safeguards for homeowners in place. 

Councilman Mike Thomas worried an attorney review would be seen as an endorsement of a private agreement, even if that agreement was poorly constructed and could end poorly for both the residents

“My question last time was, ‘Do we want our city attorney involved in this?’” Thomas said. “I’m just wondering what’s the upside of having our city attorney review this as opposed to telling them they have to do this stuff. I keep getting concerned. … If I was an attorney who reviews anything, it in some sort of way validates it from the city. What if (the agreements) are written very poorly or cause legal problems for the parties?”

Councilman Michael Wilde shared Thomas’ concerns, and the group spent a signifiant amount of time finding a compromise in the amendment’s language. They ultimately settled on striking a number of provision requirements from the city review but keeping a section that exempts the city from legal obligation or liability in a dispute between property owners. 

Fort Maitland Park Improvements

Fort Maitland Park is set to enjoy a nearly $1 million renovation and redevelopment.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department received a $200,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant to renovate Fort Maitland Park’s bathrooms, reconfigure parking and install a new playground, paddleboard space and picnic area. The city also will be contributing $715,000 from the parks trust fund. 

The plan was approved by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in early January. Although there is not a formal approval process for the improvements, the department approached the council for input on the park’s design before moving forward. 

Fort Maitland Park is a popular boating spot among Maitland residents, and Councilman Michael Wilde suggested the department look into more substantial boat launching infrastructure and parking space for boat trailers. 

“If you’ve got a curb behind you on your trailer, it just adds more stress to the day,” Wilde said. “Don’t get me wrong: This shouldn’t be a boat-centered and trailer-centered design. But it shouldn’t get worse, and it shouldn’t add more stress.”

Councilwoman Bev Reponen encouraged Parks and Recreation staff to reach out to neighboring buildings to see if a shared parking system could be put in place, although other council members were skeptical anything would come of it. 

Parks and Recreation Director Jay Conn took the council’s recommendations and will incorporate them into the park’s final development plans.

Appointments

The council nominated Bryan Stewart to the Police Officers & Firefighters Pension Trust Fund Board to fill the vacancy left by Phillip Senderowitz. 

Because both Bryan Stewart and fellow nominee Sascha Rizzo both were nominated by council members but failed to find third nominations, Mayor Dale McDonald made the rare move to nominate Stewart himself. Stewart received two followup nominations from Reponen and Wilde and secured the position. 

Stewart, a certified financial planner and financial adviser, currently serves as the chairman of the city’s Fiscal Advisory Board. 

In Other News

The council approved a resolution classifying the Maitland Concourse Lot 8 parcel as environmental land under the Heritage lands classification requirement, which designates land that promotes the aesthetic and character of the city. The Maitland Concourse North Planned Development project included nearly 11 acres of conservation land, including area to the city according to city documents.

The council approved a purchase of 28 self-contained breathing apparatus air packs for Maitland Fire-Rescue. The air packs, when used with a face mask, protect firefighters from inhaling dangerous gases and are typically used while fighting fires or during gas leaks. It has become 1difficult to procure replacement parts for the department’s current inventory, according to city documents. The new packs will cost $154,000 and will come from a piggyback on an Orange County Contract with Fisher Scientific Company.