Oakland Town Commission OK's three amendments

The Oakland Town Commission unanimously approved the first reading of amendments made to developments coming to town in the near future.

The commission reviewed and approved the first reading of an amendment revising Briley Farm’s Phase 2 development agreement and its preliminary subdivision plan. 

The town first approved Phase 2 of this housing development in 2022, but since then, the project plan has been revised. 

The amendment would reduce the lot count, revise the lot layout and approve the design guidelines and architectural standards. 

Initially, the commission approved 111 single-family lots. That is reduced to 87 lots with the revised layout. 

“It’s going to be a great project, especially reducing it,” Mayor Shane Taylor said. “The amount of lots and the lot sizes, just so everybody knows, fits more within what’s in the historic part of town. The lots are roughly 80-by-125 (feet), so they fit more within the character of the town.”

The developer will be required to plant two trees per lot and pay mitigation fees when applicable. 

It also will pay utility impact fees and $193,000 for the regional wastewater lift station and force main. 

The developer will pay the town $85,000 as a transportation mitigation fee. 

“We know that with those projects with Briley Phases 1 and 2, there's going to be traffic in there,” Taylor said. “Being able to get those funds to use as we need to improve (the roads), that's good for us.” 

About 11 acres of the project will go toward the Oakland Nature Preserve. 

“(Another win is) the donation of the nature preserve land, which allows them to build some things that they're not allowed to build inside the property, such as classrooms, education facilities,” Taylor said. “I know that one of the things they want to do is an archery range and stuff like that.” 

The second reading of the amendment will take place at the commission’s Nov. 10 meeting. 

FOURTH STREET VILLAGE 

Located at the southeast corner of Tubb Street and State Road 50, Fourth Street Village is 21.25 acres that will offer 190 multi-family units and a total of 73,500 square feet of commercial and office spaces. 

The commission approved the first reading of an ordinance that amends the layout of the village and the proposed project’s square footages. 

Initially, the developer proposed 150 square feet of office and retail spaces, 110 hotel rooms and 190 multifamily units. 

The proposed amendment reduces the number of trips being generated by the development by 42% and the intensity of the project. 

The amendment also relocates the public gathering and entertainment area and makes changes to the commercial landscape to face S.R. 50. 

“I appreciate that change,” Commissioner Kris Keller said. “It’s better to have the residential (section) pushed back. The people (who) live there will be appreciating that, as well.” 

The second and final reading will take place at the Town Commission meeting Monday, Nov. 10.

TOWN CHARTER 

Commissioners approved the final reading of six amendments made to the town charter. 

Now, if there are commission vacancies, the town must fill that position within 90 days instead of 60. If the position isn't filled by then, the town must hold a special election rather having an appointee by Gov. Ron DeSantis. 

The amendment also states runoff elections aren’t necessary — the candidate with the most votes wins. 

The approved amendment also removes the collection of signature cards from 10% of the town’s registered voters or 100 voters as an alternate method of qualification for the commission board. 

Other changes include allowing the commission to vote on any matter as long as three out of five commissioners are present as well as grammatical and wording corrections to eliminate confusion on sections 2.5, 3.4 and 4.4 of the Town of Oakland Charter. 

IN OTHER NEWS 

-Mayor Shane Taylor proclaimed Nov. 1 to Nov. 8 as Week of the Family. 

-Darron Esan, chief of the Oakland Police Department said the department is getting a rebrand. “We’re going to go away from the current design and get something new to go along with a totally new philosophy,” he said. “(We’re) completely rebuilding the team.”