Maitland downtown vote stalled

An overflow crowd of riled up Maitland residents found out on Thursday that they’ll have to wait a few more weeks to learn the fate of a main section of the city’s downtown district.

The Maitland City Council agreed on Oct. 23 to postpone a vote to approve or deny a proposal to place 220 apartments with mixed-use retail and live-work office spaces on the site of the old Winn-Dixie and New Traditions Bank Plaza properties. Mayor Howard Schieferdecker excused himself from the vote, citing a conflict on interest as a stockholder in New Traditions Bank.

A crowd too big for the Council Chambers filled City Hall overflowing into the lobby, with some waving signs outside encouraging the Council to vote down the proposal and approve a lower-density plan for the property instead.

“The last thing I personally want to do is create an uproar in this city,” said project developer David Lamm. “…We’re trying to build a community.”

Councilman John Lowndes requested that the Council and city residents get more time to evaluate Lamm’s Maitland City Centre plans before making a decision, an idea which garnered a boisterous round of applause from the audience.

“People are worried we’re going to do something tonight that we’re not prepared to do … I’d like a little more time to work through this,” Lowndes said. “… I’m sure eventually we can [get to an agreement], I’m just not sure we can get there tonight.”

A final vote on the item was rescheduled for a special meeting on Monday, Nov. 17.