Ocoee City Commission approves charter school site plan

OCOEE  With a slightly different name, work on the Renaissance Charter School on West Road will move forward, based on Ocoee City Commission's approval of a final site plan at its April 19 meeting.

This 10.49-acre site is on the north side of West Road, west of State Road 429, adjacent on the east to the West Orange Trail. The commission approved PUD rezoning for a school on March 15, 2016.

The school, now known as Renaissance Charter School at Crown Point -- instead of at Westyn Bay -- would include a two-story, 68,000-square-foot kindergarten-to-eighth-grade charter school; a Tot Lot; a basketball court; and an unlit sports field. Vehicles would access this property via a right-turn access on West Road and another access on Fountains West Boulevard.

The commission also approved the final subdivision plan and an amendment for Oak Trail Reserve PUD, which is 38.62 acres at the northeast quadrant of Clarke and Clarcona-Ocoee roads. It will be a gated subdivision of 126 single-family residences from 2,200 to 4,950 square feet, built in two phases.  The site currently is an open field partially covered by trees. District 4 Commissioner Joel Keller abstained because he is related to someone involved in the project, he said.

Orange County will provide potable water and sewer sources to Oak Trail Reserve. Developers procured a waiver from the Land Development Code to aid Trout Lake hydrology, per staff recommendation.

SEEKING INPUT ON DOWNTOWN OCOEE

Assistant Manager Craig Shadrix invited all residents to a planning and development creative workshop, where they can offer input on the concept plan for the Downtown Ocoee Master Plan. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 28, residents may drop by as they please, with a formal presentation at 7 p.m.

CHARTER REVIEW

District 2 Commissioner Rosemary Wilsen asked to move forward in the process of selecting a charter review committee. District 1 Commissioner John Grogan moved to have all applications received before a July 29 deadline considered for the commission to vote on. The top five would make the committee, after which Mayor Rusty Johnson would appoint two more from the list for the commission to vote on. Grogan's motion passed 4-1, with Wilsen opposed.

The commission then discussed how to find a professional facilitator for this process, ultimately agreeing unanimously to have three quotes by its May 17 meeting and to select the facilitator that night. This covered a withdrawal of a previous request for proposals. Grogan said a cap on payment to the facilitator should be set and to then pick the best -- not necessarily the cheapest -- qualified candidate.

IN OTHER NEWS

• Deputy Ocoee Police Chief Steve McCosker and the Citizens Advisory Council for Ocoee Police Department recognized Officer of the Year Fabiola Parke for life-saving efforts and more, CIT Officer of the Year Jose Massanet for his focus on supporting youth at Ocoee High, Civilian of the Year Ella Wisecup for supervising the Records Division and more and Volunteer of the Year Michael Sparks for extensive interning hours and dedication to becoming a police officer.
• Ocoee High lacrosse coaches approached the commission with the idea of building a youth lacrosse program to help grow the sport in Ocoee and for the high school. The commission agreed the matter would be addressed at another time.
• Grogan proclaimed April 29 Arbor Day in Ocoee.
• Commissioners approved a resolution and agreement for intent to annex for utility services for residences not eligible for annexation but within the Joint Planning Agreement area of Ocoee.
• The commission consented to a change order with SanPik Inc. worth $36,000 for piping at Ocoee Wastewater Treatment Facility. SanPik had a contract as of Nov. 17, 2015, to construct the South Water Treatment Plant Raw Water Re-Pipe Project, worth $205,858.73.
• Commissioners accepted plats for Phase 2 of the Arden Park subdivision, about 767 single-family homes on approximately 313.94 acres around Lake Sims.
• The commission followed staff recommendations to approve an amendment to lien search fees in the Ocoee Code of Ordinances and a resolution setting fees for such record searches.

Contact Zak Kerr at [email protected]