COUNTY LEVEL: Commissioners OK $26.4M Tiny Road project

Orange County leaders also rendered a key decision that paves the way for the Ocoee sports complex.

By Michael Eng
| 2:47 p.m. April 3, 2025

Orange County commissioners approved a $26,483,823 proposal to add a swath of improvements to Tiny Road from Bridgewater Middle School to Tilden Road.

West Orange Times & Observer
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IN OTHER NEWS

• Orange County commissioners on March 25 approved amending the Municipal Service Benefit Units for the maintenance of retention ponds and street lighting in the Silverleaf Area. The estimated assessment for maintenance of retention ponds is $78 per lot, per year, and $257 per lot, per year for the street lighting MSBU. The MSBUs are effective Nov. 1, 2025.

• Commissioners on March 25 unanimously approved establishing Lake Star at Ovation Municipal Service Benefit Units for the maintenance of retention ponds and street lighting in the community. The estimated assessment for maintenance of retention ponds is $78 per lot, per year, and $270 per lot, per year for the street lighting MSBU. The MSBUs are effective Nov. 1, 2025.

• Commissioners on March 11 unanimously approved establishing Lake Sheen Sound Municipal Service Benefit Units for the maintenance of retention ponds and street lighting. The estimated assessment for maintenance of retention ponds is $78 per lot, per year, and $352 per lot, per year for the street lighting MSBU. The MSBUs are effective Nov. 1, 2025.

•Commissioners on March 25 unanimously approved establishing Horizon Isle Municipal Service Benefit Units for the maintenance of retention ponds and street lighting in the community. The estimated assessment for maintenance of retention ponds is $78 per lot, per year, and $132 per lot, per year for the street lighting MSBU. The MSBUs are effective Nov. 1, 2025.

• County commissioners on March 11 continued to April 8 an amendment to the Orangewood N-1 Planed Development. The project sits on 10 acres north of Central Florida Parkway, south of State Road 528, east of Interstate 4 and west of Westwood Boulevard. The applicant is requesting adding 160,000 square feet of office use and 300 multi-family dwelling units to the site.

Horizon West residents: Long-awaited improvements to Tiny Road are coming.

Orange County commissioners on March 11 unanimously approved a $26,483,823 proposal to add a swath of improvements to the Horizon West thoroughfare from Bridgewater Middle School to Tilden Road, about 1.9 miles.

The project includes modifying Tiny Road to include two 11-foot-wide travel lanes with a 22-foot raised median in the middle, as well as 10-foot-wide shared-use sidewalks on either side.

In addition, the project includes numerous improvements, including three roundabouts with crosswalks — at Bridgewater Crossing Boulevard, Hamlin Groves Trail and Orchard Hills Boulevard.

At the Bridgewater Middle School driveway, the county will construct a raised crosswalk crossing Tiny Road, as well as a right-turn lane that was requested by Orange County Public Schools. The district is donating the land for the turn lane.

The county also will install two pedestrian-activated beacons that illuminate when someone is crossing the road. Those would be located at Hamlin Groves Trail and Palmetto Park Road.

Changes also include adding right-turn lanes at Palmetto Park Road and Green Orchard Avenue.

At the State Road 429 bridge, the county will construct pedestrian concrete barriers between the travel lanes and pedestrians.

Finally, the county will add a traffic signal at Tilden Road with dual left turns onto Tiny Road and onto Tilden Road.

District 1 County Commissioner Nicole Wilson applauded county staff for the proposal and said the improvements will improve the quality of life for Horizon West residents by giving them easy access to the Horizon West Regional Park and library branch both planned for the area.

“If you can visualize a Saturday afternoon in this area of not getting in your car and sitting in traffic somewhere — but actually being able to access our beautiful park, our beautiful library, and doing it all in a safe and beneficial way — I’m just really grateful the time and your focus on the other uses right around there,” she said.

According to the county’s traffic analysis, the current average annual daily traffic is about 9,000 trips. County officials estimate that number will increase to 13,700 by 2028, when the project begins.

DYNASTY PROJECT EARNS KEY APPROVAL
The Dynasty sports complex in Ocoee received a key approval from the County Commission March 25.

County commissioners unanimously approved a fourth amendment to the Joint Planning Area Agreement between Orange County and the city of Ocoee.

This amendment paves the way for the 150-acre Ocoee Regional Sports Complex. Known as The Dynasty, this project will include sports fields, retail, restaurants, hotel, office and indoor spots facilities.

The amendment annexes into the city seven parcels — 1053, 1059 1305 and 1113 Ocoee-Apopka Road; and 1102 and 1104 N. Lakewood Ave.

Ocoee resident Dr. Jim Moyer spoke in favor of The Dynasty project.

“(I am) very excited about the proposed use of this land — taking what was a brownfield and making it into what could … put Ocoee on the map,” he said.

Following the vote, Mayor Jerry Demings voiced his support for the project.

“(I) look forward to coming out and seeing some of the activities at the sports complex in the future,” he said.

COUNTY OKS CROSSLINE PRESCHOOL EXPANSION
County commissioners on March 25 approved tripling the size of the preschool at Crossline Community Church’s planned campus in Horizon West.

The church property is on 10 acres south of Old YMCA Road and west of Lake Hickory Nut Drive.

The church — previously known as Kensington Church — requested to allow up to 150 students in its preschool — 100 more than its previously approved 50 students.

“Our desire is just to meet the needs of the community, and so asking for the increase in preschool students is our way of doing that,” Crossline lead pastor Kevin Valentine said. “Every preschool in Horizon West has … a substantial wait list, and so there’s a great need. We would love to fill it.”

author

Michael Eng

As a child, Editor and Publisher Michael Eng collected front pages of the Kansas City Star during Operation Desert Storm, so it was a foregone conclusion that he would pursue a career in journalism. He holds a journalism degree from the University of Missouri — Columbia School of Journalism. When he’s not working, you can find him spending time with his wife and three children, or playing drums around town. He’s also a sucker for dad jokes.