Landeavor primed to continue Oakland Park project

Landeavor purchased Oakland Park from Crescent Communities last September, and Division Manager Paul Luck said he and his team have been tackling a list of issues ever since.

Luck gave an update to the Oakland Town Commission on Jan. 8. He said he has been meeting with residents in the community, has worked with town staff, is involved in the homeowners association and has begun sending weekly newsletters to residents.

He said he plans to deliver more buildable lots this summer and folks can expect to see completed homes at the start of 2020.

Mayor Kathy Stark requested that Luck hold several public meetings for residents — especially those living in east Oakland near the anticipated construction — so he can update them on all the agreements the town had with Crescent Communities and to assure them that these agreements will remain between the town and Landeavor.

Those public meetings will be announced at a later date.

The 258-acre Oakland Park is the first community of its kind, with properties in both Winter Garden and Oakland. It has nearly a mile of lakefront property, has onsite access to the West Orange Trail and is a certified green development.

More than 300 homes are occupied, all with a Winter Garden address. Future phases will be built in Oakland, bringing the total number of homes to 727.

IN OTHER NEWS:

• Public Works Director Mike Parker and Town Manager Steve Koontz provided a legislative update and solicited approval to move forward with a $2 million request to the Florida State Legislature to extend the wastewater system to Motomassek Road and Railroad Avenue. This phase will complete the main east-west “spine” through the town.

Since 2013, the town has obtained $2.35 million in state legislative appropriations to extend the wastewater infrastructure through the town. The current phase will bring the infrastructure along the West Sadler Avenue right-of-way up to Tubb Street.

• The Town Commission approved the first amendment to the Oakland Commercial Center Development Agreement between the town and RaceTrac Petroleum Inc., which is building a RaceTrac service station at the southwest corner of West Colonial Drive and Remington Road. At buildout, the 16-acre parcel will include six structures on six lots.

Part of the amendment allows the applicant to revert to the original proposed subdivision layout, which already is in place. According to Town Planner Jay Marder’s report, “This avoids the expense of tearing out existing street, drainage, utility and other related infrastructure that is in place.”