College Park development gets green light

One of College Park’s most controversial developments up for approval may get the green light for construction next month – on the condition that it shrinks in size first.

The Orlando City Council approved the Princeton at College Park apartment complex on first reading on Monday by a narrow count of 4-3, with Mayor Buddy Dyer, Commissioner Jim Gray, Commissioner Robert Stuart and Commissioner Regina Hill voting in favor.

The multi-story development would consist of 226 apartment units, sitting on a strip of land formed by Princeton and Smith streets.

Orlando City Councilmembers gave the project its first of two approvals on the condition that it follows the Edgewater Drive Vision Plan, growth guidelines approved in 2009 that would reduce the density of the project.

“If [the developer] can match that, great,” said Stuart said. “If he can’t, great, and maybe the next guy who comes through can.”

Anthony Everett of Pollack Shores told the Orlando Sentinel that the project would likely be cut back by 20 to 40 units in a new redesign. But scraping that many apartments in the project might not make financial sense in the long run, he said.

“The financial viability of the project…is in question,” Everett told the Orlando Sentinel. “But we’re going to give it the old college try.”

The previous Orlando City Council meeting saw more than 40 College Park residents speak out against the proposed project, noting traffic problems and preservation of the area’s character as their greatest concerns.

“We have an oasis of relative, relative urban peace here in College Park,” resident Steve Isham said. “Why would you sacrifice that? Why would you trade this precious sanctuary for asphalt, concrete, overcrowding and traffic jams? I and many others do not want the rampant growth that plagues other areas through Orlando.”

The project will go for before the City Council for final approval during its Oct. 20 meeting.