Ocoee commission approves extension for assisted-living facility

Despite HOA concerns regarding parking, Orchard Park received approval to go from five beds to 10.

By Andrea Mujica
| 1:36 p.m. October 5, 2022

West Orange Times & Observer
News

The Ocoee City Commission approved a special exception for the expansion of Orchard Park assisted-living facility from five beds to 10.

The property, at 2755 Grapevine Crest, currently is developed with a single-family residence, which owners Michael and Reshma Singh have been utilizing as an assisted-living facility serving five residents since 2006.

The Singhs already received the approval of licensing from the state to operate as a 10-bed facility.

The only concern addressed at the meeting was related to parking, about which the neighborhood’s homeowners association had already contacted the commission prior to the meeting.

However, after speaking with residents further, the commission moved to approve the petition unanimously.

“This home is impeccable; anything that I would’ve looked that, they’ve met,” the Singhs’ neighbor Kathy Chelini, certified nurse and legal nurse consultant, said. “Not only did they meet, but they’ve been able to tell me what else they are planning on making, how they got to where they are and the things that they worry about with their residents. This is not a family home; this is a family.”

429 Business Center Phase II

The commission approved Phase II East of the 429 Business Center located on the west side of Ocoee Apopka Road.

The property consists of 11.23 acres of undeveloped land and is currently zoned I-1 — light industrial. This project will consist of a flex warehouse development that will total 126,402 square feet of leasable space.

The site would include two access points off Ocoee-Apopka Road — one through a new east-west road along the north side of the property that would include a 50-foot right-of-way.

The commission also approved Phase II West of the 429 Business Center, which consists of three parcels of 5.58 acres located on the east side of Pine Street. Those parcels currently are developed for single-family residential uses for the preliminary stage of the project. This site totals 70,720 square feet of leasable space in a single building and is part of the development for the 429 Business Center Phase II East project.

The site proposes two access points off Pine Street and, according to the conditions for approval for the small scale comprehensive plan and rezoning of the property, industrial and commercial traffic and vehicles will not utilize Pine Street.

IN OTHER NEWS

The commission read a proclamation declaring Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month to encourage Ocoee residents to honor the diversity of the Hispanic community and celebrate the myriad ways in which it contributes to the country and the society.
The commission approved unanimously items on the consent agenda. These included the approval of a road closure for the Lux and Low Toys for Tots Car Show that will take place Sunday, Dec. 18; the approval of a road closure for the police department to host a National Night Out that will allow the community to enhance its relationship with law enforcement; and the approval for the extension of the school resource officer agreement with Orange County Public Schools.
The commission heard the first reading of an ordinance for the rezoning of Covington Oaks — a 9.94-acre property located on the north side of A.D. Mims Road and west of North Apopka Vineland Road, from general agriculture and low-density residential to single-family dwelling. The second reading and public hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 4, after press time.
The commission heard the first reading of an ordinance for the rezoning of Ocoee Oaks Joint Venture — a 12.59-acre property located on the northeast corner of the South Clarke Road and White Road intersection, from general agriculture and low-density residential to singlefamily dwelling. The second reading and public hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 4, after press time.
The commission denied resident Jose Romero a variance request in which he petitioned permission to reduce the front building setback from 25 feet to 6 feet to provide room for the installation of a carport about 19 feet inside of the maximum setback of an existing single-family home.
The commission approved an alcohol distance waiver for Inspiration Planned Unit Development and special overlay areas. The ordinance associated to the waiver required a business serving alcohol that is not associated with a restaurant not to be located within 1,000 feet of a school property or 1,000 feet to the door of a church.

author

Andrea Mujica

Staff writer Andrea Mujica covers sports, news and features. She holds both a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA from the University of Central Florida. When she’s not on the sidelines, you can find Andrea coaching rowers at the Orlando Area Rowing Society in Windermere.