1. First reading: City Code Amendment to Include Special Assessment District
Ocoee commissioners approved the first reading for item No. 12, which details a proposed ordinance to amend chapter 115 of the city's Code of Ordinances by establishing a citywide special assessment district to provide a way to recover costs from dealing with properties that create a hazard or nuisance. Currently, the city's attempts to recover such costs from property owners are limited to placing a lien on the property. This proposed citywide special assessment district would only apply to properties with an unpaid code enforcement abatement invoice, which will then be included in the assessment roll provided to the Orange County Property Appraiser as part of the annual property tax billing cycle. The second reading and public hearing for this proposed ordinance will be held during the Feb. 21 commission meeting at Ocoee City Hall.
2. First reading: Silver Star Road PUD
City leaders cleared a proposed ordinance, (item No. 11), for the annexation, rezoning, land use plan and preliminary subdivision plan for a planned unit development on Silver Star Road. The applicant requested to build 43 single-family homes on 10.91 acres of undeveloped property. The proposed residential development will be situated on undeveloped property on the south side of Silver Star Road, east of Johio Shores Road and west of Good Homes Road. The applicant desires a future land use designation of Low Density Residential – which allows up to 4 dwelling units per acre – and a rezoning classification from Orange County Agriculture to City of Ocoee Planned Unit Development. The date for the second reading and public hearing is yet to be determined.
IN OTHER NEWS
- Following the passing of an ordinance to use a special magistrate, Ocoee city commissioners have agreed to designate primary jurisdiction over code enforcement matters relating to commercial properties to Andrew Hand – a city attorney who currently presides over red light camera violations. Hand will be paid at an hourly rate of $180 an hour.
- The first reading of the preliminary final site plan for The Park at 429, (item No. 10), was postponed a second time. The Park at 429 is a planned unit development project situated on a 45-acre parcel consisting of five buildings located on the north side of Palm Drive, on the west side of SR 429, and on the east side of East Crown Point Road.
- Commissioners approved the reappointment of Robert McKey and Milton West and the new appointment of Ocoee resident Robert Henderson for three-year terms to the Planning and Zoning Commission. City leaders also appointed Rubi "Lori" Hart for a three-year term to the Human Relations Diversity Board and Cory Garone to the Ocoee Police Department's Citizen Advisory Council.
- The City of Ocoee presented the Christian Service Center a check for $909 from the proceeds of the Chick-Fil-A 5K Run and Kids Fun Run during the 2017 Founder's Day celebration. The Christian Service Center is an organization that makes it its mission to eradicate homelessness and combat poverty by providing food and social services to those in need.
- Commissioners approved city staff's recommendation to award a total of $7,363 to four organizations as part of the Most Valuable Partnership Grants Program. The four organizations were chosen because of their community projects in enhancing property values and Ocoee residents' quality of life. Admiral Pointe HOA, Silver Bend HOA and the Lake Olympia HOA were each given a grant of $2,000, while Sleepy Harbour was awarded $1,363.
- During public comment, Ocoee resident Mark Pester announced he would be holding a free Empowering Women seminar in May. He requested a fee waiver for the rental of the Ocoee Lakeshore Center. After some discussion, commissioners unanimously approved to rent out the facility at a cost of $450 to recuperate the city's costs.
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Contact Gabby Baquero at [email protected]
