Winter Garden reverses P&Z fence decision

The Winter Garden City Commission on Sept. 12 approved a variance to permit a 4-foot fence height at a property located at 530 S. Lakeview Ave. 

The decision reverses a decision made previously by the Planning and Zoning Board.

At the meeting, applicants Daniel and Krista Meloon requested to appeal the P&Z board’s Aug. 5 decision, where the board denied the request of a 4-foot-tall fence in the front yard along the front property line, as well as a 4-foot-tall fence along the front side yards of the property in lieu of the permitted 3-foot-tall fence at the property.

“We would just appreciate the approval,” Krista Meloon said. “There are several other homes that have the same exact fence that we installed.”

“I would like to point out that we’re not asking for anything that doesn’t already exist,” Daniel Meloon added.

According to a staff report, the P&Z board found the fence height does not allow a reasonable use of the property and concluded the use is out of character with other properties in the same zoning category. The board denied the variance based on these grounds.

According to the city code, any person aggrieved by a decision of the P&Z board may file a notice of appeal to the City Commission within 15 days. The commission then shall conduct a hearing, hear testimony of witnesses and other evidence offered, and vote to reverse, modify or affirm a decision of the board.

“In my opinion, it’s a fence, and if there’s precedent in the area, even on the street, it just doesn’t seem right,” Commissioner Lisa Bennett said. 

Commissioner Iliana R. Jones agreed and said she does not see the fence as taking away from the character of the area. 

Commissioner Colin Sharman suggested delaying the decision to give the commission more time to think about the request. 

“I, personally, don’t have an issue with a 4-foot fence; I think it’s welcoming,” he said. “However, overriding a board vote without doing our due diligence gives me odds.”

The item was approved 4-1, with Sharman dissenting. City staff also recommended the approval.

CENTRAL FLORIDA HOPE CENTER GRANT

The City Commission also approved authorizing City Manager Jon C. Williams to execute a grant agreement with Central Florida Hope Center Inc., located at 1010 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, in an amount not to exceed $100,000.

Economic Development Director Marc Hutchinson said the one-year grant agreement will help expand the delivery of economic opportunities for the underserved and undereducated individuals and families exclusively in Winter Garden. 

Tim Grosshans, president of the Central Florida Hope Center, said the public charity showcases the efforts of the local churches coming together to meet the needs of residents who are in dire need of services. 

The Hope Center’s Life Solutions project is designed to enhance the economic prosperity of qualified residents to include expanded case management services with the hire of a dedicated case manager, who will create a customized action plan for residents providing them with essential life skills training, time management skills, workplace communication skills, hygiene, interview preparation and other enabling workforce tools. 

Residents also will get connected to additional community resources to further expand their workforce development, housing assistance needs and access food security programs. 

Success of the Life Solutions project will be measured by job-referral rates, job-placement rates and job-retention rates.