Oakland P&Z to review two proposed apartment projects

The town of Oakland Planning & Zoning Board will hear presentations from developers on two different projects — both with commercial frontage on West Colonial Drive — that are proposed to include apartments. Both developers have submitted their applications, and this is their next step.

The public meetings to request amendments in the zoning designations will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Aug. 17 and Sept. 21, at the Town Meeting Hall, 221 N. Arrington St. The meetings also can be accessed online through Zoom; for details, call Town Hall at (407) 656-1117.

OAKLAND MIXED-USE VILLAGE

At the Aug. 17 P&Z meeting, board members will hear a presentation from developers Residence Management Inc. and Investors’ Realty Ltd. Inc., who represent the 23.36-acre parcel at the southeast corner of West Colonial Drive and Fourth Street (the southern extension of Tubb Street). They will request an amendment to the PUD to change the use from Commercial Uses to Mixed Use Commercial/Residential.

The developers hosted a community meeting recently to allow residents to learn more about the proposed development. They are proposing a mixed-use development with commercial along West Colonial and 220 multi-family units on the southern portion of the property near Florida’s Turnpike. The property extends east and includes the Johns Lake Motel.

“It’s the preliminary site plan so they can move forward with amending the zoning and the Comp Plan amendment,” Town Manager Steve Koontz said. “This group wants to move as quickly as possible.

The P&Z will make a recommendation to the Town Commission, and the elected officials will consider this in a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13.

ONE-ELEVEN RESIDENTIAL

The second presentation to the P&Z takes place Sept. 21, and the developer, OneEleven Residential, also will request an amendment to the PUD to change the use from Commercial Uses to Mixed-Use Commercial/Residential.

This 22.5-acre piece of property is on West Colonial Drive just west of the Florida’s Turnpike near Palm Casual. The proposal calls for commercial along West Colonial and 240 apartment units on the north side of the parcel near the turnpike. The proposed site plan calls for roughly 50% commercial space in front (to the south) and about 50% residential in the back.

The developer held a community meeting in May to gather feedback from residents. The apartment buildings would be high quality, according to the presenters, with four stories, an elevator and enclosed hallways; monthly rent would be in the $1,300-to-$2,000 range.

The next step will be a public hearing at the Tuesday, Oct. 12, Town Commission meeting.