Proposed fire station in Horizon West leads Orange County Commission action

Editor’s note: County Level is the Observer’s new feature, in which we will highlight the most impactful actions taken by the Orange County Commission.

District 1, led by Commissioner Nicole Wilson, encompasses the following areas: Avalon Rural Settlement, Dr. Phillips, Gotha, Horizon West, Hunter’s Creek, Lake Buena Vista, Metrowest, Ocoee, Tildenville, town of Oakland, Williamsburg, town of Windermere and Winter Garden.

District 1 is the largest and fastest growing district in Orange County. Made of quiet, historic towns and bustling new development, it is a unique hybrid of classic and contemporary Florida living.

FEBRUARY BCC RECAP

Although February was a slower month in District 1 for the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, several decisions were made that impacted West Orange and Southwest Orange.

FIRE STATION 32

At the Feb. 6 meeting, the County Commission approved awarding a bid to Mulligan Construction Inc. in the amount of $6,957,777 for the construction of Orange County Fire Station 32 located in the Horizon West area. 

The new station will be located at 14100 Hartzog Road, Winter Garden. Station 32 currently operates out of a temporary space in Kissimmee. 

The planned 11,532-square-foot, single-story structure would sit on 1.62 acres. 

The building would accommodate three apparatus bays and apparatus bay support areas, along with general facility functions such as a kitchen, dining, dormitory, restrooms and showers, with equipment/utility/support spaces also included. 

There would be a site wall around the perimeter of the property, as well as traffic signalization. 

The building structure would include reinforced masonry with structural steel framing and metal deck with insulation and metal roofing system. 

The station would significantly improve response times in the Four Corners area.

OAKLAND ROUNDABOUT

At the Feb. 6 meeting, the County Commission approved a change order for a roundabout in the town of Oakland. 

This project involves the reconstruction of the existing offset intersection of Oakland Avenue and J.W. Jones Road with Old Highway 50. 

The reconstruction includes realignments of all three roadways to create a roundabout intersection. It also includes the realignment of the West Orange Trail and modifications to the existing signal at the intersection of State Road 50 and Oakland Avenue.

The change increases the original contract amount from $2,972,740 to $3,141,644, an increase of 5.68%. 

HORIZON WEST REGIONAL PARK TINY ROAD CONNECTION

At the Feb. 6 meeting, commissioners approved a Recreational Trail Easement by the Orange County School Board to Orange County and authorized the county to perform all actions necessary for the Horizon West Regional Park Tiny Road Connection. 

The agreement provides for access, construction, installation and maintenance for a recreational trail that connects Tiny Road to the Horizon West Regional Park.

The park, located on 215.25 acres at Hamlin Groves Trail and Mann Road, broke ground Thursday, Feb. 15. See the Orange Observer’s full photo gallery here.

HAMLIN DEVELOPMENTS

At the Feb. 20 meeting, commissioners approved the Hamlin Southwest Planned Development — Unified Neighborhood Plan Review/Hamlin Southwest Overall Infrastructure Planned Subdivision Plan/Hamlin Southwest Medical Offices Master Development Plan. 

The request is to construct three buildings totaling 41,617 square feet within a partially constructed shopping plaza. The subject property currently is entitled for 304,817 square feet of nonresidential uses.

The subject property is located south of New Independence Parkway and west of State Road 429 within the Horizon West Town Center Village. 

At the same meeting, commissioners approved a substantial change to the Hamlin West PD — UNP/Hamlin West Preliminary Subdivision Plan/Lot 3 — Northshore of Lake Hamlin PSP.

The project is located south of New Independence Parkway and east of Avalon Road within the Horizon West Town Center Village.

The applicant was seeking approval to satisfy its on-site recreation area requirement utilizing the highlighted “neighborhood square” park, including a series of pocket parks.