Winter Garden postpones decision on 87-home proposal, gives preliminary approval to horse carriage law

HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES

Because Winter Garden does not have any laws pertaining to horse-drawn carriages on the city’s streets, the city staff drafted a proposed ordinance that, if adopted, would establish guidelines regarding where and how horse-drawn carriages may be operated in the city. The proposed ordinance, labeled Ordinance 18-63, passed its first reading during the Nov. 9 city commission meeting. Among other things, the proposed law addresses the issue of disposal and management of animal waste, proper nutrition and health of horses used in the operation of horse-drawn carriages used for touristic purposes, and rules regarding where the carriages may be parked and operated. According to city documents, all horse-drawn carriages would be prohibited from operating on Plant and Dillard streets. In addition, animals used to pull carriages will need to wear diapers or "similar devices to prevent manure or droppings" from falling on the street. The second reading and public hearing of this ordinance will take place Dec. 14.

LAKE ROBERTS RESERVE

The city commission postponed the first reading of a proposed ordinance on behalf of an applicant who wishes to annex the Lake Roberts Reserve property into the City of Winter Garden and change the future land use plan to low-density residential. The applicant’s request for the 78.87-acre property –  located south of Stoneybrook West Parkway, north of McKinnon Road and west of Windermere Road – is being recommended for denial by city staff. The developer plans to construct 87 single-family residences on the land, but area residents and city staff have expressed strong concerns about the potential environmental impacts of building a road through the property’s wetland areas. According to city documents, concern also exists regarding the adverse impacts a roadway in that location may have on surrounding waterbodies, such as Lake Roberts and Lake Reeves. The reading has been postponed until the next commission meeting, which is scheduled Dec. 14.

IN OTHER NEWS

• The Winter Garden City Commission recognized the service of the late Jack Quesinberry – a resident and former mayor of Winter Garden who died at 86 years old on Thursday, Oct. 26. Quesinberry served 16-and-a-half years as mayor of Winter Garden from 1991 to 2008. To date, he is the longest-serving mayor in the city's history.
• City leaders approved the final plat for Park Place planned residential development located on the southeast corner of West Plant Street and South Park Avenue. The future development will have 32 townhomes on a 1.50-acre property.
• The city commission meeting initially scheduled for Nov. 23 and Dec. 28 have been canceled. The next meeting is anticipated to take place Dec. 14.
• City leaders also endorsed Ordinance 17-58 and 17-59,  which pertains to the future land-use and rezoning requests for a 0.41-acre property located at 12802 W. Colonial Drive. The property currently contains a warehouse that is being retrofitted into a multi-tenant commercial building in order to house a fitness gym and furniture store in the future.
• Commissioners approved Ordinance 17-63, which would rezone 0.17 acres of property at 35 E. Vining Street. The applicant is requesting the rezoning in order to combine the property with another property to the east and develop a new single-story office building measuring 4,500-square-foot.
• The city authorized a $485,697 purchase of one new automated side-load truck and one new automated rear load truck utilizing the Sheriff’s Association and Florida Association of Counties contract from Nextran Truck Sales.