Oakland postpones vote on lake community

The Oakland Town Commission has again tabled a vote on a neighborhood project proposed by Venue Development LLC. The developer is applying for approval on a 20-lot single-family subdivision called Bayview at Johns Lake and located off Remington Road.

The preliminary subdivision plans first were brought to the commission’s Aug. 9 meeting. It was tabled because of three issues: lot sizes and density, impact to traffic, and compatibility and buffering with the adjacent existing development, Johns Landing.

The Town Commission continued the PSP to the Oct. 25 Oakland meeting to give the applicant time to address the concerns. The applicant provided updated preliminary plans and a traffic impact analysis and coordinated with the Johns Landing Homeowners Association.

The proposal still includes 20 lots — with three of them fronting Johns Lake and measuring 80 feet in width. Residents in Johns Landing have expressed their desire for two lots measuring 120 feet to be consistent with their community’s lakefront lots.

“I’m kind of disappointed they kept the 80-foot lots,” Commissioner Rick Polland said. “I really think you should make them 120 (feet) wide to be similar to neighbors. … I don’t think it’s fair to the other homeowners.”

Town code requires a minimum lot width of 70 feet (60 feet for corner lots) with a minimum depth of 125 feet. The proposed Bayview lots are consistent with standards for the town’s Neighborhood General Design District and meet density requirements.

The proposed development would connect to the town’s water and wastewater services. The applicant argued Johns Landing needed larger lots because that development is on a septic system.

“We are going to significant expense to bring sewer to 20 lots,” the developer said.

After all discussion ended, the vote was tabled to the Nov. 8 commission meeting.

NEW POLICE CHIEF HIRED

Mayor Kathy Stark swore in Darron Esan as the new chief of police for the town of Oakland. Esan previously was a lieutenant with the Orlando Police Department.

“Staff has spent a long time looking at candidates, working with a firm to identify the appropriate folks,” Stark said.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

• Several residents were appointed to positions on town boards: April Grimes on the Architectural Review Board, Michael Elliott as first alternate on the Planning & Zoning Board and Nancy Ross as second alternate on P&Z.

• Commissioners passed the first public hearing of an ordinance that is a third amendment to the developer’s agreement for the Oakland Park Planned Unit Development. This essentially cleans up four points of disconnect between the agreement and the town’s design standards.

• Officials proclaimed Nov. 5 through 12 Week of the Family in the town of Oakland.