Winter Park Planning and Zoning Board recommends approval of new home on Lake Virginia

The Winter Park Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval for the construction of a single-family home on Lake Virginia, while another request to build a home on Lake Maitland was postponed during a brief meeting Tuesday, May 7.

The approved home would be 5,314 square feet in size and built at 394 Henkel Circle. Another single-family home that currently sits on the property would be demolished.

“In terms of lakefront review criteria, staff didn’t see any concerns as this home is presented,” Winter Park Senior Planner Allison McGillis said.

McGillis added a request to build a 4,258-square-foot home at 1204 N. Park Ave. on Lake Maitland had been tabled until the board’s June 4 meeting.

ORANGE AVENUE OVERLAY STEERING COMMITTEE

Winter Park Director of Planning and Community Development Bronce Stephenson informed the board the Winter Park City Commission will vote May 13 on a steering committee for the Orange Avenue overlay district currently being pursued by the city.

Stephenson said the committee would represent input and expertise from across the community to help guide what Orange Avenue should look like as it is redeveloped.

“We would use it like we use other steering committees where we have large projects or large initiatives — to have a good sounding board and utilize the citizens we have in the community who hopefully represent a very different cross section to makes sure we have good input and a good product moving forward,” Stephenson said. 

The committee would include five members individually appointed by the mayor and four city commissioners, as well as a member from six of the city’s boards: the Transportation Advisory Board, the Economic Development Advisory Board, the Planning and Zoning Board, the Winter Park Visioning Committee, the Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board, and the Keep Winter Park Beautiful and Sustainable Advisory Board.

Members of the committee would make a recommendation on the overlay district language to the Planning and Zoning Board and the City Commission, discussing topics such as the history and past work/input on Orange Avenue, results of the public input process, place-making and overlay districts, neighborhoods nearby, small businesses, and transportation and connectivity, among other topics.

According to the May 13 City Commission agenda, the committee would meet at 5:30 p.m. every other Wednesday evening at the City Commission Chambers, with the first meeting taking place May 29, pending approval by the City Commission, Stephenson said.

The meetings, running through the summer and into the fall, would be open to the public and public comment time would be allotted.

FAREWELL TO TWO BOARD MEMBERS

The Tuesday, May 7 meeting also marked the last time board members Sheila De Ciccio and Bob Hahn would cast their vote. The two of them reached their term limits.

Planning and Zoning Board members can serve a maximum of two three-year terms.

“We hate to lose the folks that we have, but there’s always opportunities to serve on boards and committees,” Stephenson said. “Thank you for your service.”

Mayor Steve Leary is set to appoint two new Planning and Zoning Board members at the May 13 City Commission meeting.