Winter Garden leaders uphold office project denial

City leaders unanimously denied a site plan pertaining to a proposed commercial development on Daniels Road during the Feb. 28 City Commission meeting.

The proposed development, named Daniels Road Business Park, would have allowed for the construction of five new office/retail buildings on the 6.25-acre property. 

The site, located at 1200 Daniels Road, is situated on the southwest corner of Daniels Road and West Colonial Drive behind the Burger King and SunTrust Bank. 

During the Feb. 18 commission meeting, developer and property owner Dan Roberts appealed to commissioners and presented information he had hoped would convince them to vote against city staff’s recommendation to reject his site plan. During that meeting, the commission agreed to review the case and postpone their decision until Feb. 28.

According to the agenda, city officials recommended denial of Roberts’ site plan because they believe the project fails to meet the code requirements for developments located in wetlands. 

The proposed project, as currently designed, would require the removal of four acres of wetlands on the property. But Roberts maintains the wetlands are distressed and in poor condition. As a result, he purchased $175,000 in wetland-mitigation credits outside of the city limits.

“I don’t think I’m being unreasonable at all,” Roberts said. “There are virtually no organics left on the property. It’s all sand. A wetland would have organics on it, and it would be hydrated. There’s nothing to hydrate the property.”

When asked by Winter Garden City Commissioner Colin Sharman if he has considered only building on the non-wetland portion of the property, Roberts replied that from a practical standpoint, “it would be impossible to come up with a design” that would not impact the wetlands. 

IN OTHER NEWS

• Commissioners approved the medical retirement of the Winter Garden Police Department’s Canine Mack and awarded custody to Matthew Griffin, his handler. According to Winter Garden Police Chief Steve Graham, Mack served the police department for four years and is being retired because he developed spinal arthritis. The city also approved the purchase of a replacement canine.
• The City Commission authorized the first reading of Ordinance 19-10, which amends the city’s 2018-19 budget. The amendment allows city staff to carry forward $31.57 million in appropriations from the 2017-18 budget for projects, machinery and equipment that had been previously budgeted but not purchased by the year’s end. 
• City leaders approved the second reading of Ordinance 19-11, an amendment to the city’s code that establishes standard requirements for lot maintenance, including recreational facilities, golf courses and open spaces.