Town opts to move forward with annexation process

The Windermere Town Council hosted a virtual workshop Tuesday, May 28, to discuss the possibility of annexing the Chaine du Lac community into the town limits. 

Although a consensus was reached by council members to move forward with the annexation, opinions were divided on whether a referendum for a vote by the town residents should be included as part of the process. 

The annexation is involuntary, which requires the approval of a referendum by 50% plus one by the registered voters within the Chaine du Lac area. 

Florida statutes state the town does not have to bring a vote before the residents in the town of Windermere, but they do have the option to do so if they would like. If the Town Council was to proceed with this route, both the Chaine du Lac residents and town residents would have to approve the referendum by a 50% plus one vote. 

ANNEXATION ANALYSIS

Chaine du Lac is located on 103 acres south of Lake Butler Boulevard and abuts the town limits to the west. The annexation would include not only the community’s homeowners association but also the entire area.

The Windermere proper town limit is 2.2 square miles, and Chaine du Lac would add about one-third of a square mile. 

According to data collected from the Orange County Property Appraiser in April, the community contains 74 parcels, 51 single-family dwelling units with an average parcel of about 1.5 acres and six vacant residential parcels measuring about 1.4 acres. There are 16 HOA properties and one agriculture exempt property. 

Town Planner Brad Cornelius said the town is essentially a built-out community with few vacant properties left in the area. Currently, the town has about 3,038 residents, with a total of about 3,250 residents estimated after build out. Chaine du Lac would bring in about 212 residents if annexed.

Courtesy image

POTENTIAL IMPACTS

Cornelius said he does not anticipate the annexation having a negative impact on the town. 

As is already the case with its agreement with Orange County, Cornelius said the HOA would continue to be responsible for the roads, common areas, stormwater and lighting. 

If the annexation were to be completed, the town would take over solid waste and recycling for the community. 

Like the town, Chaine du Lac uses Orange County water and is on septic.

If annexed, the town would be responsible for providing police and fire services to the community. 

Although the town does not have a fire department, Windermere has a continuing services contract with the Ocoee Fire Department. The Ocoee FD would continue to provide fire and emergency management services. 

Ocoee and Orange County also have an agreement through which Ocoee covers the calls for Orange County in the northern area where Ocoee has more stations, while Orange County covers the calls for Ocoee in the southern area. 

If annexed, the residents of Chaine du Lac would be able to vote in the town elections. And, after a year of residency, the residents also would be eligible to run in the town of Windermere’s elections. Chaine du Lac residents would have access to the town’s boat ramps and tennis courts, as well as be able to attend town resident-only events, obtain discounts on Town Hall rentals, be part of the town’s committees and benefit from the town’s disaster recovery.

According to the town’s current analysis using 2023 taxable values, current property tax rates, and assessment rates for the county and the town, an average Chaine du Lac property with an average taxable assessed value of $1,441,132 is projected to pay $440 less in property taxes and $1,875 more in assessments, a net increase of $1,435 more if annexed into the town. 

Based on the town’s current analysis using 2023 taxable values and the current town millage of 3.7425 mills, the town would receive an additional estimated $399,114 ($379,258 — 95% for budgeting purposes) in additional property tax revenues.

REFERENDUM ROW 

Mayor Jim O’Brien said there are several benefits to the town annexing in the community in addition to revenue.

“You control what is near your borders,” he said. “If we don’t annex this at some point, someone else will. You may like that, you may not like that. ...  I think it’s always wise to take these opportunities when we can.”

Resident and former Council Member Bill Martini agreed.

“We get additional revenue, there’s very little additional cost to provide the services to that area, we increase our buffer with Ocoee and Orange County ... and these people are already our neighbors,” he said. 

Council Member Brandi Haines said she has received several comments and concerns from residents regarding the annexation and its impact on the town’s core.

“(In) the last few years, council has done … a great job of starting to be more transparent and starting to listen to the feedback of the residents and hear what they want, and I feel like doing a referendum only for Chaine du Lac is kind of taking a step backwards in that,” she said. “I think there’s been a lot of strides forward, and the town is really listening to the feedback of what the residents want. So, personally I think that the referendum should include the town to have a say so, because it is going to affect them in some way, shape or form. So, I just don’t think that our residents should be left out of that vote when it comes to the referendum.”

Resident Frank Krens worries about other annexations in the future. He disagreed with allowing the town residents to vote on a referendum. 

“What you’re doing is the right thing, and I am totally with it,” he said. “I would say there’s a risk; there aren’t many people on the call. Like with the pavilion, I think if you put it out there for the town to actually make the decision, you’re taking a big risk. If you open that up to a town vote; I would advise against it.”

Council Member Tony Davit said he would like to move forward with annexing the community with no referendum. Council members Mandy David and Andy Williams agreed.

Haines agreed with moving forward but with a referendum for the residents to have a vote, as did Council Member Tom Stroup.

Next, the town will host two public input meetings with Chaine du Lac residents, as well as two public meetings with the town community at large, before the council votes on a referendum for the annexation.