Ocoee Commission OKs assisted-living facility

OCOEE — A three-story, 150-bed, 102,729-square-foot FKA Inspired Living assisted-living facility could open as soon as March 2016 on Tomyn Boulevard, following a unanimous approval of the final site plan from the Ocoee City Commission.

Commission members and nearby residents had concerns about lighting, a lack of fences and traffic lights, the speed of the project, tree removal and security of the back of the neighborhood just east of the site, Blackjack Oak Street.

Members of the development team were present to address these concerns and agreed to the commission’s approval with the condition that the developers meet with residents after installing a fence on that eastern side of the property.

To the north of the property is Patriots Point Drive; to the west, Warrior Road; and to the south, Windermere Road.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MASTER PLANNING

Assistant City Manager Craig Shadrix presented outlines of a plan to grow business and revitalize downtown Ocoee, with three key items: a new downtown master plan, an economic development program targeting high-wage jobs and a strategy for commercial marketing and retail.

The commission unanimously approved all three items: a request for qualification for downtown redevelopment planning at $250,000; a consulting contract with Rep. Randolph Bracy not exceeding $20,000; and a three-year, $110,000 contract with Retail Strategies LLC for commercial retail marketing.

POLICE VEHICLES

The commission unanimously approved the three-year lease-purchase of 10 police patrol vehicles, including six Dodge Chargers and four Chevrolet Tahoes. The total cost will be $341,586.70 at an interest rate of 1.65% for the three years, with $119,000 of payments on the budget for the 2015 fiscal year.

EMERGENCY ACCESS TABLED

Commissioner John Grogan requested a delay on an ordinance change regarding emergency vehicle access systems in gated Ocoee subdivisions, citing immense community feedback and a desire to let the public have its say on the issue. The commission agreed to table the motion until its May 19 meeting.

The commission also delayed its selections for the Canvassing Board for the March 10 election. As non-candidates, Mayor S. Scott Vandergrift, Commissioner Rusty Johnson and Commissioner John Grogan will each appoint one member to the board.

IN OTHER NEWS

• Commissioner Joel Keller asked city staff to look into changes to lien policies and report back to the commission within a couple of months. Keller wished to reduce financial penalties for those failing to comply under certain conditions, so that citizens could pay less and the city could get names off its records.

• Ocoee and its red-light camera installer, ATS, face a lawsuit regarding the cameras, City Attorney Scott Cookson said. ATS will pay for its legal team to cover both parties in the suit.

• Ocoee’s annual Black History Month Essay Contest will take place at 7 p.m. Feb. 26, at City Hall, 150 N. Lakeshore Drive.

• Commissioner Rusty Johnson recognized more than a dozen volunteers with certificates for their contributions to Ocoee’s annual Founders’ Day Festival.

• Commissioner Rosemary Wilsen announced preparations for Ocoee’s 10th annual Spring Fling, an event focused on residents’ safety, were well underway. This free event takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at Bill Breeze Park and will include food, door prizes, vendors, bike rodeo, a balloon artist, face painting, an educational road obstacle track, and for Ocoee residents, trees, plants and rain barrels. Pre-registration for the rain barrel workshop is available at (407) 905-3159.

Contact Zak Kerr at [email protected].