PZ 10/08/2014 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning & Zoning Commission/ Local Planning Agency October 8, 2014 Page 5 Ms. Lightbody said that an important changed condition that has been overlooked is that the Planned Residential District (PRD) and the medium residential density of this property predate the current Comprehensive Plan by decades. She said the current Comprehensive Plan specifically states that the City shall encourage low density residential uses around lakes. She said that means five houses or less per acre and the PRD is supposed to have higher standards. Ms. Lightbody said the economic impact is at best speculative and completely unsupported. She said the report theorizes that along with an increased tax base the development will increase property values and development in nearby areas. She said this claim is completely unsupported and local real estate brokers have told local neighbors that this development as planned would devalue their properties. Ms. Lightbody said that the development is too large for a small piece of property in a quiet rural family neighborhood. Ms. Connie Wightman, 1245 Howell Point, Winter Park, Florida, came forward to speak in opposition to this project. Ms. Wightman felt that the conditional use adversely affects the character of the surrounding neighborhoods which is a violation of the Comprehensive Plan and City Code. She said the Code specifically prohibits adversely impacting the character of the neighborhood. She said this particular PRD states that the changed condition at State Road 436 warrants this particular commercial use. Ms. Wightman felt that this use was inappropriate for the area. She said the medium and low density residential neighborhoods characterize the area much more so than what is happening on State Road 436. Ms. Wightman felt that the intensity and scale of the conditional use is incompatible with the adjacent land uses and is in violation of City Code. She said the development will look and feel like a commercial development in the middle of a residential area. Ms. Wightman said the parcel encompasses essential wetlands and flood plain that is unsuitable for development. She said there is no need for a transition between that area and surrounding residential uses nor are there any commercial areas immediately neighboring the proposed Allegro development for which transition is necessary. She said due to the limited size, the unusual configuration of the parcel and the scale of the proposed assisted living facility, there are no other uses possible within the Allegro development that create conditions for which a conditional use might be appropriate. Mr. David Chulak, 207 Ranch Road, Winter Park, Florida, came forward to speak in opposition to this project. Mr. Chulak said that his property is across the street from this proposed commercial project. The density and impervious coverage of the Allegro development fails to meet the standards for planned developments in the Unified Land Development