Commission approves east Winter Garden rezoning

The Winter Garden City Commission approved several ordinances pertaining to the rezoning of east Winter Garden at its Thursday, June 23, meeting.

The city was requesting to change the zoning and future land use designation on 48.07 acres located east of South West Crown Point Road, west of State Road 429, north of East Maple Street and south of East Plant Street. 

The amendment will designate the properties as Low Density Residential and rezone the properties to Residential District. 

These specific residential properties were annexed when the city of Winter Garden and Orange County entered into an interlocal agreement Feb. 8. The FLUM and rezoning change is the final step in the annexation process. 

Community Development Director Steve Pash said the annexation will provide a more efficient delivery of services to the property and further the goals and objectives of the city’s Comprehensive Plan to eliminate enclaves. He said the proposed FLUM amendment and rezoning is consistent with the city’s Comprehensive Plan and the city of Winter Garden Code of Ordinances. 

REZONING DISCUSSION

The pair of two ordinances were discussed and voted on separately. 

Although the first ordinance passed unanimously with no discussion, the second prompted thoughts from several commissioners. 

District 2 Commissioner Ron Mueller said although he was in support of part of the ordinance, he had concerns about leaving the area as R-4 and believes moving it to R-2 would be more beneficial. 

Mueller noted the board taking action in the 1980s in district one to zone the area R-2, saying looking back, it may not have been the best decision. 

“I do think the wiser path is to use an R-2 district across there so that we can improve lot sizes over time as opposed to keeping them in their very restrictive boundaries…” Mueller said.  

At the previous commission meeting on June 9, Pash said R-4 has 50-foot-wide lots, smaller side-yard setbacks and is more consistent with what is developed in the area. R-2 would require a 75-foot-wide lot, 10-foot side-yard setbacks and would be inconsistent. 

District 3 Commissioner Mark A. Maciel said he saw Mueller’s point but disagreed. 

“I just don’t want to take away anyone’s property rights,” Maciel said. 

The second ordinance was passed 4-1, with Mueller dissenting. 

PICKLEBALL COURTS

The commission approved a waiving of the formal procedure process and awarded a purchase order to Advantage Courts LLC. in the amount of $59,885. 

The project consists of converting one tennis court to three additional pickleball courts along with resurfacing and relining of the entire court area of the existing pickleball and tennis courts.

The addition of fencing and sport barriers and the replacement of the aging windscreen around the entire court is also included. 

The funding for the improvements is included in this year’s 2022 budget as a line item for pickleball improvements/courts.