Letters to the editor

I have totally lost all faith in the elected officials of the city of Winter Park.

I attended the first zoning board meeting regarding the old DMV property at the southwest corner of Canton Avenue and Denning Drive. The first person who spoke made a case that this project had been permitted in 2006, but was not built and that even though the city master plan was changed in 2009, this project should be allowed go forward as it had been permitted for in 2006. So I am thinking, what was the point of the master plan if the city is going to allow projects to go forward that do not adhere to the new recommendations?

Requested exemptions from the master plan were for such things as the height and parking space requirements. And by the way, the speaker said that the trees on the property are distressed and would have to be removed. This person turned out to be a Winter Park employee. I cannot imagine a worse conflict of interest than to have a city employee petitioning the board on behalf of a development project.

When I was given the chance, I spoke up about the already problematic parking space shortage across the street at the Winter Park Village, but no one seemed to care. Then another Winter Park resident spoke, and as an aside asked what was happening with the property along the east side of Denning Drive from Canton Avenue to Depugh Street and she was basically told that that was none of her business. One gentleman on the board did mention that the property was probably in litigation and that nothing would be happening soon. Two weeks later I received in the mail from the city of Winter Park a whole proposal for that site with zoning board meeting times all noted.

And now we have the city of Winter Park changing the replanting and monetary fee requirements you need to pay to the city when you remove a large tree.

I think the city of Winter Park has completely forgotten what is good for the city. These developments may bring increased revenues, but they also require additional services from the city, which cost money to supply.

This concept of live, work and play is nice but, since I know people who get in their car and drive two doors down to visit with their neighbor, is inherently flawed.

With Ravaudage going in at the already congested intersection at the corner of Lee Road and U.S. Highway 17-92 just a few blocks away from the DMV project, Winter Park is going to become a very congested place on that side of town. And since that intersection cannot be widened, our problems here in Winter Park are going to get worse.

Shari Yudenfreund-Sujka

Winter Park