West Orange mayors discuss latest projects at chamber luncheon

The mayors from West Orange’s four municipalities joined colleagues from Orange County and Orlando at the 2016 West Orange County Mayoral Update Luncheon.

The event took place Oct. 12 at the Ocoee Lakeshore Center and was organized by the West Orange Chamber of Commerce Economic & Governmental Advocacy Committee.

Representatives included Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Oakland Mayor Kathy Stark, Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson, Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn, Winter Garden Mayor John Rees and Orlando District 6 Commissioner Samuel Ings.

Fred Kittinger, associate vice president of the University of Central Florida, served as the moderator for the hourlong discussion.

Orange County

Jacobs delighted in detailing Orange County’s $300 million initiative that aims to provide funding for infrastructure and transportation projects, public-safety facilities, affordable family housing units, recreation opportunities and improvements for pedestrian safety.

Jacobs was particularly proud that the program, INVEST in Our Home for Life, managed to collect the funding without the need to raise taxes. The bulk of the money will be used for various transportation projects ($200 million). Twenty-million dollars will be allocated to parks and recreation, $15 million is for efforts to improve pedestrian safety, $5 million for ecotourism projects around Lake Apopka and $30 million was directed to Orange County Fire Rescue to construct three new fire stations and a training facility.

City of Winter Garden

Rees informed attendees about Winter Garden’s master plan for the redevelopment of both East Plant Street and Dillard Street. Rees said the city intends to widen the sidewalks, replace three intersections with roundabouts and develop a two-way bike lane leading into the historic downtown district.

When asked about the future of more living options in Winter Garden, Rees reported a big project from developer John Rinehart to construct a three-story building that would offer commercial space on the first floor and a total of 22 high-end apartments on the second and third floors. Also in the works on the corner of South Park Avenue and Plant Street, he added, are 24 town houses.

Town of Oakland

Stark mentioned the hottest topic in her town at the moment is wastewater and a project to expand State Road 50 into Clermont. Stark was proud to announce Oakland recently received $1 million in funding from the state to help with the effort and preparations for economic development along the highway.

City of Ocoee

When questioned what the hottest topics were in the City of Ocoee, Johnson emphasized the downtown revitalization plan, which includes multiple road and infrastructure improvements, the relocation of City Hall and the expansion of the Ocoee Lakeshore Center. Equally important, Johnson said, is the City Center West Orange project, a $400 million planned development that includes about 500 condominium homes, a convention center, hotel, recreational trails and about 500,000 square feet of retail and commercial space.

Town of Windermere

Bruhn highlighted his efforts to gather leaders in West Orange to discuss what they can do to make improvements. His aim is to use the adage, “strength in numbers,” and create a cooperative partnership that collectively proposes an initiative to the state Legislature in Tallahassee to bring sewer and potable water to West Orange.

“Each of these cities brings something unique,” Bruhn said. “Windermere, basically, doesn’t have a lot of economic growth, but we do have Oakland, and we do have Ocoee, and they can bring that. ... We need potable water. We need sewer, and there’s funding coming that’s going to be available coming from Amendment One.”

Bruhn also reiterated the transportation improvement plan that has been stuck in the planning stages for several years now. His idea is to extend Old Winter Garden Road and connect one of the lanes to Florida’s Turnpike. If it ever comes to fruition, the new road network would relieve traffic on State Road 50 by 30% and cut commute time for anyone attempting to get to Horizon West, he said.

City of Orlando

Ings remarked the project currently occupying the majority of their resources is the $200 million project to build a downtown campus for UCF, along with housing for about 7,700 students by fall 2019.

Ings also gave an update on three developments in MetroWest: Veranda Park, a 642-unit residential development encompassing four, four-story buildings with first-floor parking; an Excellence Assisted Living facility consisting of 153 units in a four-story building; and a Wawa gas station coupled with 49,000 square feet of commercial space to include a drive-thru restaurant. 

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Contact Gabby Baquero at [email protected].