Town annexing 108 acres for possible subdivision

There could be a new subdivision in Oakland’s future after the town commission voted last week to annex 108.66 acres north of State Road 438 on the west end of town. The land is situated on both sides of J.W. Jones Road.

The property includes two sections composed of approximately 86 and 23 acres. Killarney Village LLC of New York owns the larger piece, which consists of four parcels but is being annexed as one because there is a consistent land owner. The 23-acre parcel is owned by Jack and Joan Amon. Meritage Homes of Florida Inc. is the agent for Killarney Village, and June Engineering is representing the Amons for the sale of their property, which has been used for tree harvesting.

The vacant land is currently zoned Orange County Rural with a proposal of town of Oakland Low-Density Residential zoning.

The applicants plan to use the property for single-family development in the future but have not yet made any formal commitments.

The commission vote on June 3 was just the first step in the annexation process; a second reading and public hearing are scheduled to take place at the June 24 meeting.

In other business, Town Manager Dennis Foltz shared the following information in his staff report to commissioners:

• The Planning Department is drafting a new tree-removal policy and fee schedule and creating a new Tree Removal Permit Form that adds fees and requirements for replacement.

“As we grow, we will need processes and policies that cannot be challenged, not only by commercial properties, but by residential requests,” Foltz said. They will receive a draft policy and fee schedule to review at the June 24 commission meeting.

• The “B” Building at Oakland Avenue Charter School needs to be reroofed. Numerous repairs have been made over the past few years, and a replacement roof is a more cost-effective option.

• The water main relocation is complete on the site where the Little White House stood on Tubb Street, and the building-permit application is being reviewed by Orange County staff now. Town staff is preparing a draft agreement that will outline responsibilities for the process of constructing a new building, and then a lease agreement with West Orange Habitat for Humanity will be developed.