Proposed townhouse project moves forward

The Winter Garden City Commission approved the second reading of one ordinance and the first reading of two ordinances pertaining to the same proposed townhouse development project at its Thursday, Aug. 8, meeting. 

An applicant was requesting annexation in the second reading and to amend the Future Land Use Map from County Low Density Residential to City Medium Density Residential, as well as to rezone the subject property from Single-Family Dwelling District to Planned Unit Development in the first readings.

The 8.72-acre subject property is located at 1265 and 1271 Avalon Road, on the northeast corner of Avalon Road and Rolling Rock Way.

The applicant wants to construct 61 new townhouse units in 11 separate townhome buildings, which will have five or six units each. The project would also include associated site development, such as recreation areas, open spaces, sidewalks, a lift station, landscaping and stormwater ponds.

The discussion previously was tabled at the Sept. 14, 2023, City Commission meeting. Now, the applicant is proposing the same density as previously presented, with an additional feature, which is that all of the units will be Net Zero Ready homes with solar panels that offset 85% to 100% of household energy usage.

Planning Director Kelly Carson said staff recommended approval and believes the project is consistent with other development in the area.

Although the three ordinances were voted on separately, they all were approved 4-0, with Mayor John Rees recusing himself from the vote due to his in-law’s family owning property across the street. 

PROJECT CONCERNS

Logan Opsahl, attorney representing the applicant, shared a short presentation on the project.

Opsahl explained the proposed density is just shy of seven dwelling units an acre, as opposed to the 10 dwelling units allowed, because of the wetlands on the property. He said the wetlands will be preserved and not impacted. 

Carson said there was one community meeting held on the project last year in which only one resident attended; he said he liked the project and was in favor of it. 

“This is 61 units, which I thought last year when it came before us is the same amount of units, and I thought I heard the commission talk about wanting fewer units at that meeting,” Rees said. “The density (also) is an issue. … I think the trees are more important to me than the dollars coming in …”

Commissioner Lisa Bennett also voiced concerns on the trees, as well as the traffic.

“They did do a full traffic impact analysis and they found that, No.1 they did agree that the condition on Avalon Road was suboptimal,” Carson said. “It’s a failing road per their standards, but they also said that this particular development with only 61 units added would not lower the level of service on that road. So, it would not worsen the situation.”

Resident Gretchen Tope also shared her input on the trees in the project during public comment.

“How many of you are parents?” she asked. “When was the last time you heard, ‘Everybody else is doing it.’ I had to try so hard to keep my mouth shut … when the developer said this to you about the trees. My God, that’s not a good excuse, and I’m ashamed that none of you thought about saying that to them. Some of those trees are irreplaceable. Probably none of us will live to see the new trees they plant grow … ‘Everybody else is doing it’ is a phrase my children and my grandchildren learned very fast not to use with me … I hope that you all will stand by the strength of your convictions and say, ‘We want those trees. We don’t want babies. We want to have our live, beautiful trees.’”