Could a development moratorium be coming for Reams Road?

After more than two hours of spirited deliberation, the Orange County Commission has directed county staff to continue drafting a temporary moratorium on development that impacts Horizon West’s most beleaguered intersections.

At its Feb. 11 meeting, the commission considered several solutions to ongoing flooding and traffic problems during a work session on the intersection of Reams Road, Ficquette Road and Summerlake Boulevard. The solutions would bring quicker relief to the area because the permanent road improvements still are years away from completion.

The session followed an Oct. 29, 2024, County Commission request to consider four options for temporary solutions. Those include adding pre-storm preparation and enhancing maintenance activities; adding additional asphalt overlay to raise a portion of Reams Road; implementing more stringent development stormwater management standards; and two options for a moratorium on development.

While the commission unanimously supported the first three options, commissioners were divided on the implementation of a moratorium. 

Susan Van Ussach, the Orange County Public Works Department deputy director, presented two scenarios for the moratorium. The first stipulated there can be no wetland and floodplain impacts in the Reedy Creek Sub-Basin until the construction of Reams Road is completed (mid-2029) or until more stringent stormwater code modifications are adopted (late 2026). The second and more severe option stipulates there can be no development approvals or permits in the Reedy Creek Sub-Basin until the construction of Reams Road is completed (mid-2029) or until more stringent stormwater code modifications are adopted (late 2026).

While the second option did not receive support, ultimately, District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson earned support of District 4 Commissioner Maribel Gomez Cordero, District 5 Commissioner Kelly Semrad, District 6 Commissioner Michael Scott and Mayor Jerry Demings to direct staff to pursue the first moratorium option.

“In order for me to be able to go back to the community and say, ‘No, we’re not just sitting on our hands until hurricane season rolls around again,’ I am begging that we move forward and allow them to work on the language for the (wetland and floodplain moratorium),” Wilson said. “I believe that because it’s a very distinct geographical area with a very distinct finish line that it isn’t as risky as … a full moratorium might be in some other situations. … There have been some very severe consequences to not having the infrastructure caught up.”

District 2 Commissioner Christine Moore and District 3 Commissioner Mayra Uribe both dissented. Moore said she could not support the measure because of the potential legal ramifications it could cause.

“I think the legal exposure is too great considering our staff came up with a lot of good solutions,” she said.

If the moratorium is approved, it could affect the development of 19 remaining parcels within the Reedy Creek Sub-Basin potentially available for development.

According to Van Ussach, the area had suffered from flooding issues prior to development beginning in 2000. In more recent years, flooding has continued to plague the area. Following Hurricane Ian in 2022, 9.4 inches of rain fell on West Orange and forced the county to close Reams Road for 16 days. The flooding cost $180,000 in repairs. Two years later, Hurricane Milton dumped 10.9 inches of rain in the area. This impacted the right-turn lane from Ficquette Road to Summerlake Park Boulevard. However, Reams Road remained open, and no repairs were needed.

“I love that we had all of this articulated history, but none of it was a surprise,” Wilson said. “We knew that was wet. When you look at the aerials from 50 years ago, it was a river. And someone thought, ‘Well, that’s OK. I’ll just pile some dirt up there … and make a neighborhood. … And that was a failed plan, and it’s happened all over the region, and that’s what we’re paying for now.”

No date has been set for the commission to vote on the moratorium.

REAMS ROAD CONSTRUCTION PLANS
Currently, there are two projects scheduled to improve the roadway. The first includes widening the stretch of Ficquette Road from south of Inglenook Drive to south of Summerlake Park Boulevard from two to four lanes. The project also will include a 10-foot multi-use trail and 5-foot sidewalk; two additional ponds; intersection improvements at Ficquette Road, Summerlake Park Boulevard and Reams Road; and constructing the roadway above the 100-year flood elevation. 

The total construction cost is $28.6 million, and the project is funded. Construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025 and last through the third quarter of 2028.

The second project will widen Reams Road from Summerlake Park Boulevard to Taborfield Avenue from two to four lanes. The project also includes a 14-foot multi-use trail and 5-foot sidewalk; seven additional ponds; a bridge design south of Greenbank Boulevard; and constructing the roadway above the 100-year flood elevation. 

The total cost for this project is about $80.2 million, and the project is funded. Construction is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026 and last through the second quarter of 2029.

IN OTHER NEWS
• The Orange County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 11 approved 6-1 a change of the Lake Bryan Square Planned Development from 280 hotels to 298 multifamily units. The county also approved a waiver to allow a maximum building height of 125 feet (11 stories). The development is located on 5.52 acres east of State Road 535, west of Lake Bryan and north of World Center Drive. 

• The county on Feb. 11 approved text and map amendments for the establishment of the Kilgore Road Rural Residential Enclave. This change sets the minimum lot size of 2 acres within the enclave. This prevents owners from subdividing parcels into smaller lots. The enclave sits on 113.06 acres and encompasses about 100 parcels. The property is located west of South Apopka-Vineland Road and east of Pocket Lake and Lake Sheen.

• Commissioners on Feb. 25 approved decreasing the speed limit on Avalon Road from Hartzog Road to U.S. 192 from 55 mph to 45 mph. 

• The commission on Feb. 22 approved a permit to construct a new semi-private boat ramp in Sand Lake Sound. The ramp will be located at 7565 Alpine Butterfly Lane, Orlando, on the southern shoreline of Little Sand Lake.