Oakland sends Comprehensive Plan amendment to state

Oakland Town Commissioners unanimously approved Tuesday, June 9, the transmittal of Tubb Street and Oakland Avenue Overlay District Comprehensive Plan Amendment to the state. 

Oakland Town Manager Elise Hui said the town has been working alongside Kimley-Horn and Dix.Hite + Partners since 2024 to develop an overlay district including portions of Tubb Street and Oakland Avenue. 

The purpose of the overlay district is to guide redevelopment and enhancement of the primary entrance corridor into the town. 

The overlay district would transform Tubb Street and Oakland Avenue into a main street that is vibrant and walkable — while also including pocket parks, open spaces, small businesses, shade trees and more. 

The district would be divided into three separate districts: Gateway, Heritage Walk and Canopy, also known as the Main Street Sub Area. 

The Gateway District is the point of arrival into Oakland from State Road 50. It plays a critical role in setting expectations, signaling entry and slowing movement, said Katy Magruder, senior planner at Dix.Hite + Partners. Located along Tubb Street, between Sadler Avenue and State Road 50, the Gateway District also will serve as a commercial and office gateway.

The Heritage Walk District is located north of the Gateway District, along Tubb Street between Oakland Avenue and Sadler Avenue. It would include professional and personal offices around the intersection. It also would include wider, shaded sidewalks for enjoyable biking and walking. 

Finally, the Canopy District, located along Tubb Street between the West Orange Trail and Oakland Avenue, would create a lively and functional commercial, retail and civic focus. 

The goal is to keep Oakland’s charm while also growing the town and the services it offers. 

“Oakland’s charm and historic character are already evident, providing strong bones upon which to build a true destination — one that fosters daily community life for residents while creating a memorable experience that invites visitors to return again and again,” Magruder said. 

Magruder said the town’s Appearance Review Board amended the original language of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment from allowing five-story buildings to be constructed in the Gateway District, three-story buildings in the Heritage Walk District and two-story buildings in the Canopy district, to four-story buildings in the Gateway District, four-story buildings between State Road 50 and Ryan Court, and three-story buildings between Ryan Court and Sadler Avenue. 

“It’s a big deal for our town,” Mayor Shane Taylor said. “This is something that needs to happen here to help drive that revenue that we need. … There’s a lot of good things that can come out of this project — not just for the town, but for visitors, everyone.” 

Before the town can move forward with policy changes, the state must review the amendments and approve it. 

“I’m excited,” Taylor said. “I can’t wait to see what comes from this.”

State budget, town win 

Glen Glizean, senior adviser from Arrow Group said the company was able to secure $1.5 million from the state for the South Lake Apopka Initiative. 

The initiative will improve the water quality within Lake Apopka’s watershed and protect natural resources, support reasonable growth, and enhance a quality of life for current and future residents, he said. 

“This project will have a direct and meaningful impact for the town of Oakland,” Glizean said. “It extends sewer service and supports Oakland’s transition from septic to sewer services by reducing the septic sewer systems within Lake Apopka’s watershed.” 

Glizean said the town’s priority were heard in Tallahassee, which is how Arrow Group was successful in achieving this win. 

Arrow Group Senior adviser Ron Brisé said although this is a big win for the town, Gov. Ron DeSantis still has to review all the line items in the budget and approve them.

Rezoning approved

Oakland Town Commissioners unanimously approved, Tuesday, June 9, the second reading of two ordinances amending a property’s zoning and classification. 

The owners of 2253 Bay Line Road, Oakland, Floriano and Neisa Putigna, recently submitted an application to the town to amend the future-land use and rezone the 12.91-acre property. 

The property currently has a zoning district and future-land use of agricultural, but the owners would like to be reclassified to low-density residential and rezoned to single-family residential. 

“We have an enormous amount of children — seven kids,” Neisa Putigna said during the commission’s Tuesday, May 26, meeting. “We plan on having something for one of our children in particular that would probably need to stay close and live near us due to being adopted and some special needs.” 

While there are no development proposals at the time, the Putignas would like to have the option to transform their land into five parcels when the time is right. 

While commissioners were concerned during the May 26 meeting about the amount of wetlands in the property and their conservation, Neisa Putigna said they will not touch any of the wetlands. 

This was the final approval needed for the amendment.