Winter Park City Talk

April 27 City Commission meeting highlights

Mayor’s Report

• The Winter Park Day Nursery was recognized as the 2015 First Quarter Business Recognition Award recipient.

• A proclamation was made declaring Letter Carriers’ Food Drive Day in Winter Park.

• The Visioning Steering Committee appointment was confirmed.

Consent Agenda

• The minutes for April 13, 2015 were approved.

• The fiscal year budget adjustment for the Cemetery Trust Fund was approved.

City Manager’s Report

• More than 50 employees were recognized for their Years of Service ranging from five years to 40 years of commitment to making the city the best place to live, work and play in Florida.

Action items requiring discussion

• The real estate exchange agreement for 666 Nicolet Ave. and 808 Nicolet Ave. was approved.

Public Hearings

• The resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into an Urban and Community Forestry Grant Memorandum of Agreement with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services was approved.

• The following request of Philip Kean was approved:

— Conditional use approval under the cluster housing provisions of the R-2 zoning district to allow the construction of three, two-story townhouse units at 1047 and 1049 N. Kentucky Ave.

• The request of Unicorp National Developments Inc. for final conditional use approval was approved with modifications.

• The request of Fifth Third Bank resulted as follows:

— The first reading of the ordinance to amend the comprehensive plan Future Land Use Map to change from Single Family Residential to a Parking Lot Future Land Use designation at 453 N. Lakemont Ave. was approved.

— The first reading of the ordinance to amend the official zoning map to change from Single Family (R-1A) District to Parking Lot (PL) District at 453 N. Lakemont Ave. was approved.

— The conditional use approval to develop the properties at 1851/1861/1871 Aloma Ave., and 443/453 N. Lakemont Ave., for a one-story 3,500-square-foot branch bank with drive-thru tellers and 5,715 square feet of professional office was continued for discussion.

A full copy of the April 27 City Commission minutes will be available at cityofwinterpark.org/ccminutes the week of May 11, pending approval by the City Commission. Remember, if you are unable to attend the City Commission meetings, you can watch them live, gavel to gavel, as they happen. During the meeting, simply log on to cityofwinterpark.org/cclive to easily stay tuned-in to official city business.

Happy one year anniversary, SunRail!

On Friday, May 1, SunRail will celebrate its one year anniversary with a day of surprises for passengers. Whether you ride SunRail to and from work or for leisure that day, SunRail promises a day full of fun! Ride SunRail and tell your colleagues, friends and family to join you on Friday, May 1. See SunRail.com for the full train schedule.

Art in Chambers exhibition featuring Thomas “Thor” Thorspecken

The city of Winter Park Public Art Advisory Board is proud to announce the newest Art in Chambers exhibition “Analog Artist Digital World” featuring urban sketches by Thomas “Thor” Thorspecken, an illustrator and journalist working in and around Central Florida. Thorspecken’s website, Analog Artist Digital World, was started in January 2009 with the intent to post one sketch per day. This is the artist’s way to finally put down some roots, to become part of a community one sketch at a time, as the city of Winter Park has much more to offer than its proximity to theme parks.

The exhibition will be open for public viewing beginning Monday, May 4, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for holidays, in Commission Chambers and the adjacent Chapman Room, in Winter Park City Hall located at 401 S. Park Ave. An artist reception open to the public will be held on Wednesday, May 6, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Commission Chambers.

Art in Chambers, a project of the Winter Park Public Art Advisory Board, showcases works by local artists or works borrowed from local museums. Art in Chambers enlivens Winter Park’s public rooms and exposes residents and visitors to art, highlights the importance the city places on art and culture, provides city support to local artists and studios, and creates opportunities to educate the populace on the value of art and its place in a meaningful life.

Historic Preservation Ordinance Public Forum

The city will host Historic Preservation Ordinance Public Forums on Thursday, May 7, at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the Winter Park Welcome Center located at 151 W. Lyman Ave. The presentations will include an introduction of the draft amendments to the Land Development Code, Article VIII, Historic Preservation. Questions and comments related to historic preservation will be addressed at these presentations before the draft amendments are presented to the City Commission for their consideration on a future date.

The City Commission directed the Historic Preservation Board (HPB) to review the Historic Preservation Ordinance as well as study other agencies’ codes and incentives for comparison. This has been completed. The HPB has also reviewed comments and concerns from a volunteer citizen committee as well as members of the community.

Draft amendments to the ordinance provide for clarity and improved function, and meet requirements for Certified Local Government status. The complete draft ordinance, showing all proposed changes, is available online at cityofwinterpark.org > Departments > Planning & Community Development > Historic Preservation.

For more information regarding the City of Winter Park, please visit the city’s official website at cityofwinterpark.org. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and watch us on both Vimeo and YouTube.