Commercial, residential projects earn Oakland approval

Officials have put a temporary halt to development within the gateway corridor in the town of Oakland, but not before approving developer agreements for about 63 acres of commercial and residential projects.

Both projects — the RaceTrac, planned for the southwest corner of Remington Road and West Colonial Drive, and the Hull Island subdivision in west Oakland — have been under scrutiny by the Oakland Town Commission. Elected officials passed Feb. 13 a temporary moratorium on accepting and processing development applications and plans relating to development until design standards for development can be adopted.

Mayor Kathy Stark said the moratorium will allow the town time to further define and make more objective the design standards that were established. The new standards will apply mainly to commercial projects along West Colonial Drive and Oakland Avenue.

This issue came up when these two projects came before the commission for a vote in recent months.

Phase 1 of the Hull Island project went before the commission in January but was sent back to the P&Z for another review after commissioners questioned the 65-foot lot sizes along Lake Apopka.

Stark and the commission were pleased with the changes, which include lakefront lots a minimum of 80 feet wide and 15 feet between homes with a reduction of three lots. An agreement was added, too, that stipulates boat docks must be at least 50 feet apart.

M/I  Homes, the designated builder for the neighborhood, has agreed to abide by “Oakland character” standards with its house designs and façades.

The remaining 26 acres will be devoted to trails, green space and wetlands.

The 16-acre Oakland Commercial Center Planned Development — the RaceTrac project — includes six non-residential lots, seven buildings and 50,000 square feet of floor space. The space will be divided into three areas: neighborhood office, regional commercial and neighborhood retail/commercial.

The developer and the town have now reached an agreement on the design elements after months of discussion.

PERTURBED ABOUT PEACOCKS

Katherine Wright moved back to Oakland eight years ago, eager to once again live in the town in which she was born. She is enjoying her life in Oakland, but there is one thing she can do without — the peacocks.

An estimated 50 peacocks live in the town, descendants of the fowl introduced 30 years ago by Briley Farms. While beautiful to look at, they have become a nuisance because there are so many.

“They have just trashed my yard,” Wright said. “The stench is terrible. It's a health hazard.”

She said she has to hose down her yard when there's no rain just to get rid of the odor.

“I enjoyed them when I first came here, but that was before they dominated my yard.”

Public Works Director Mike Parker said he has already spoken with Briley Farms owner Jeff Voss, who agreed to partner with the town to humanely relocate some of the peacocks. Trappers already have been contacted.

Parker said the town tried to get Orange County to assist but was told the county doesn't deal with peacocks.

“We won't eradicate them all,” Parker said. “The peacocks are a part of Oakland.”