Developer nixes hotel plans, earns Oakland approval.

The Oakland Town Commission approved three ordinances having to do with two proposed development projects at its May 14 meeting.

A small-scale future land-use amendment changed from Mixed Use Commercial to Mixed Use Activity Center for future development on about 21 acres at the southwest corner of Fourth Street and West Colonial Drive. This property, called Fourth Street Village, was rezoned to Planned Development with a development agreement and master plan.

The owner is Oakland West Five Zero LLC.

After initially meeting with the Town Commission March 12 and hearing the elected officials’ comments, the developer was given time to revise the development agreement. The second public hearing was then tabled until last week’s meeting. A proposed 110-room hotel was removed and replaced with a mixed-use building, a minimum of 40,000 square feet of commercial and office space was added, and the taller three- and four-story buildings were moved to the back of the property.

The proposed project still calls for a maximum of 190 multi-family dwelling units, a maximum of 125,000 square feet of commercial and 25,000 square feet of office space, a net density of 10.8 dwelling units per acre, and a net floor area ratio of .2.

Commissioner Rick Polland asked to add that the development must adhere to any current and future Dark Sky lighting ordinances.

Beverly Parsons, who lives on Fourth Street, is against the proposed project because it would be built directly across the street from her home. She said she is concerned about the increase in traffic and noise it will bring to her quiet street and the danger is poses to her visiting grandchildren.

“Here’s your choices,” Mayor Shane Taylor responded.” We can keep the land like it is and (Florida Department of Transportation) will come in and buy the land and put a pond in it — and it adds nothing to the town. … This town is ready to move forward. … We’re going to do this the smart way. We’re not going to throw things in.

“One of the things I wanted to look at, because of where you live, is putting in an advanced landscape package so it blocks you,” he said.

In addition, the developer would have to install temporary chain-link fencing during construction.

“We’re not losing our identity,” Commissioner Sal Ramos said. “The property will look just like Oakland, and people will notice it.”

BRILEY FARM PHASE 1

Some changes have been made to the 35-acre Briley Farm proposed community near Lake Apopka as well. In April, the commission approved the first reading of an ordinance that included the proposal to rezone Briley Farm Phase 1A and Briley Farm Phase 1B — owned by Briley Land Holdings LLC — and Daniels Cove — owned by Daniels Land Holdings LLC — from R1-A to Planned Development to unify into Briley Farm Phase 1 and to approve specific design guidelines and architectural standards for development.

Briley Farm Phase 2 is owned by Voss Family Holdings LLC and currently is zoned Planned Development with a development agreement.

According to town staff, eventually all Briley Farm phases, which includes Daniels Cove, will be under one PD zoning and development agreement.

Among the proposal revisions, side setbacks must be a minimum of 7.5 feet, with the exception of Lot Type D, which will have 5 feet; accessory dwelling units cannot contain permanent cooking appliances and cannot be used for permanent occupancy; and one of the five architectural styles, British West Indies/Bermudian, was removed.

The next step for the developer is to plat Phase 1B and create a preliminary subdivision plan and replat for Daniels Cove.

IN OTHER NEWS

• John E. Gill III was appointed as an alternate member to the Architectural Review Board.

• The town accepted a project agreement with Bike/Walk Central Florida to assist with the creation of an inventory list of trails, sidewalks, bike lanes and crossings within the town.

The mapping of these pedestrian networks will provide the town with a way to analyze the existing inventory and identify opportunities to enhance the connectivity of pedestrian traffic. The inventory and Geographic Information Systems mapping will be instrumental when prioritizing projects in the town that have the greatest probability of receiving grant funding. The GIS/mapping inventory would be funded by Transportation Impact Fees at a cost of $2,105.88.

• Jenoptik, a company that offers speed-enforcement cameras and license plate-reading systems, gave a presentation. Police Chief Darron Esan’s goal is to increase the safety of students and parents at and near Oakland Avenue Charter School. The speed cameras would be placed in the school zone, and the plate readers would go in each corner of the town, Esan said.

“It doesn’t cost the (town) or taxpayers any money,” he said. “The speeders will pay for it. … The purpose here is to encourage people to drive slower for the kids.”

A portion of each speeding ticket issued goes back to the school

• Esan also introduced two new full-time officers, Brienna Brown and Barry Strykowski, who come to the town with a total of 20 years of experience with other agencies.

• The town has embarked on a project to test products in an attempt to lessen the dust that comes off the dirt roads, according to Public Works Director Mike Parker. A crushed shell material was laid on Edgegrove Lane and Vick Avenue, and the town will assess the integrity of the road for about 100 days.

• The town proclaimed May 19 through 25 National Public Works Week.

• Mayor Shane Taylor asked each of the department heads to give an update on activities and accomplishments. The commission heard from Oakland Avenue Charter School and the departments of community outreach, police, human resources, finance and public works.

• Taylor mentioned three projects he would like to work on for the town: He wants to bring Lynx bus service to Oakland; look into obtaining a grant to landscape and beautify the medians along West Colonial Drive; and explore the possibility of a Community Redevelopment Agency, which would designate an area of the town to enhance with the assistance of Orange County funds.