You ready?
We're rolling. All right. Hey, good evening everyone. Thanks for uh coming
in tonight. Um, we'll call to order the uh Oakland Town Commission meeting for
August 25th, 2026. If everybody could please stand for the pledge or remain
standing.
Amen. Thank you, Miss Mac. Missed you.
» All right. Good evening, Kathy. Good evening. Commissioner Keller
» here. >> Vice Mayor Satderfield,
Mayor Taylor >> here,
» Commissioner Mley >> present. Commissioner McMullen is
absent. >> Okay.
So, um we've got uh three proclamations tonight and um we'll get to those right
now. Our first proclamation tonight is uh
Labor Day in the town of Oakland. Whereas, Labor Day is a timehonored
tradition in the United States dedicated to recognizing the invaluable
contributions of American workers whose dedication and hard work have built and
sustain our nation's economy and prosperity. And the town of Oakland,
Florida, is deeply committed to celebrating the achievements of our
local workforce, acknowledging the vital roles that workers and all industries
play in ensuring the continued growth and success of our community. And Labor
Day also serves as a reminder of the importance of fair and equitable working
conditions, the right to a safe workplace, and the continued need to
advocate for the rights and well-beings of all workers. And the town of Oakland
is proud to honor the men and women who contribute tirelessly to this strength,
vitality, and well-being of our community and to reflect on the progress
made in the pursuit of labor rights and the work that still lies ahead. And as
we gather to celebrate this Labor Day, we recognize the diversity, dedication,
and resilience of our workforce. And we commit to supporting initiatives that
promote job creation, fair wages, and opportunities for all. Now therefore, I
Shane Taylor, by the virtue of the authority vested in me as the mayor of
the town of Oakland, Florida, and on behalf of the entire town commission, do
hereby proclaim September 7th, 2026 as Labor Day in the town of Oakland and
urge all citizens to join in recognizing the celebrating the valuable
contributions of workers in our community and across uh our nation. So,
thank you very much for that one. Uh this one is Constitution Week 2026
whereas September 17, 2026 marks the 239th anniversary of the drafting of the
Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional
Convention. And it is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to this
magnificent document and its memorable anniversary and to pay and to the
patriotic celebrations which will commemorate the occasion. and public law
915 guarantees the issuing of a proclamation each year by the president
of the United States of America designating September 17th through the
23rd as Constitution Week. Now therefore, I, Shane Taylor, mayor of the
town of Oakland, and on behalf of the entire town commission, do hereby
proclaim September 17th through September 23rd, 2026 as Constitution
Week in the town of Oakland, and ask our citizens to study the Constitution,
reflect on the privileges of being an American with all the rights and
responsibilities which that privilege involves.
And one of our favorite ones every year that we do, it's the um and and I'd like
to say thanks Christa in and your organization uh Healthy West Orange for
being a big part of our town and helping us out on on things. So, thank you very
much >> and thank you for 10 years of supporting
us. We are celebrating the 10th anniversary of Healthy Selfie.
» You're welcome. And we get a free t-shirt for doing that. Thank you.
» Have a very colorful. >> Yes.
Yeah, >> you do.
» Uh, whereas the healthy West Orange inspires healthy behaviors and provides
resources to help residents make better lifestyle choices. And Healthy West
Orange champions healthy programs that deliver health and wellness activity
activities. And Healthy West Orange unites health-minded organizations for
whom a healthy community provides meaningful benefits. and Healthy West
Orange advocates for healthy communities decisions and encourages local leaders
to keep their communities health and wellness a top priority. And Healthy
West Orange declares that the third Friday in September as the annual West
Orange Healthy Selfie Day. Now therefore, is my great pleasure and
privilege as the mayor of the town of Oakland to declare Friday, September
18th, 2026 as West Orange Healthy Selfie Day and in celebration of the 10th
anniversary of Healthy Selfie. And I urge all citizens to join in supporting
this initiative. So, thank you very much. Yeah. Yeah. You want a selfie?
Sorry.
» Yeah. You hold them right up.
I didn't think
September 12th.
Okay, moving right along. We are on to the
consent agenda tonight. And on the consent agenda is approval of the August
11th, 2026 town commission regular meeting minutes. Approval of the town
commission holiday meeting schedule with town hall offices closures. Approval of
the second extension to the agreement with Wade Trim for planning services.
Approval of the continuing and interlocal agreement with Orange County
Property Appraisers. Required communication letter for Pervis
Gray. Gosh, that's coming up. See like we just did that.
Supra auditors notification letter to the Florida Department of Commerce to
update the town's uh comprehensive plan. So with that, any questions or comments
from anyone? Okay, we'll entertain a motion.
» Make a motion to accept consent agenda as presented.
» Second. >> I'll second the motion.
» All in favor? >> I
» I Okay. All right. Uh, next is an ordinance tonight. It's ordinance number
202605. First reading.
» An ordinance of the town of Oakland, Florida adopting a town official zoning
map amendment from C1 commercial general within the urban corridor district
design district to PUD plan unit development within the urban corridor
design district for certain real property owned by Oakland Town Center
LLC. Generally located on the north side of State Road 50. at the northwest
corner of the intersection of State Road 50 and Katherine Ross Road as more
particularly described herein with an approximate size of 14.80 acres
approving a development agreement between the property owner and the town
of Oakland and approving a preliminary subdivision plan making findings and
providing for conflict severability and an effective date.
» Thank you Kathy. Good evening Taylor. How are you?
» I'm good. How are you Mr. Mayor?
Sometimes there's a screen behind everyone and it's okay if you want to
turn around and and look at that one too because some of the details I think that
they're going to show is probably see them better.
» All right. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of the town commission. Before
we get into the details, I'm so sorry. Before we get into the details about the
project, I wanted to give a little bit of a background regarding the actual
property in question. So, the subject site is comprised of five distinct
parcels of land as mentioned totaling approximately 14.8 acres. It does
contain both a commercial future land use classification and um f um zoning
and is in a commercial zoning district. It is
it is located within the town's urban corridor design district. And the intent
and purpose of tonight's ordinance, as mentioned, is to approve a reszoning of
the property from C1 commercial to PUD planned unit development, approval of
the companion development agreement and preliminary subdivision plan, and
approve architectural building elevations. And just a little bit of the
anatomy of why this is all being approved under a single ordinance. In
order to reszone to a planned unit development, you you need to create a
set of guidelines and restrictions by which that PUD is allowed to develop to.
Hence the exhibit to a PUD is a development agreement which outlines the
regulations that we'll get into later in the presentation. And then serving as an
exhibit to that development agreement is the preliminary subdivision plan which
contains the civil site plan and layout, the landscaping plan that we'll take a
look at and the architectural elevations that we'll also view. So that's kind of
the if you will layer cake that comprises the ordinance that's before
you this evening. Looking at the site location map here,
the five parcels of land mentioned, the only cutout from a clean rectangle is
the um the existing tractor supply store.
And looking at the actual proposal itself, so the Oakland Town Center is
proposed to comprise of 11 singlestory commercial buildings of varying sizes
and configurations ranging from an approximately 10,000
square foot larges scale retail building all the way down to a singular 1,200 ft
drive-thru building. In addition to that, this does include a little less
than 7 thou 17,000 square feet of open space which can comprise of plazas,
outdoor seating areas. Could be largely dependent on what kind of tenants end up
moving into the commercial spaces. The property the project would be accessed
via via five distinct access points and it would also include a newly
constructed roadway by the developer that would be that is intended to be
dedicated to the town as a public rideway.
Because of the very steep elevation grade which totals approximately 14 15
feet from north going all the way down to the southern corner. This project is
being built w with Phil and in an incorporated retaining wall which we'll
take a look at on the site plan. So giving a little bit more visual credence
to the project, you can see here the the layout of the 11 buildings. The blue
spaces are those proposed outdoor amenity plaza areas. You can see several
intermingled throughout the proposed buildings.
Each arrow contain is a distinct access point. Two off of Katherine Ross, two
off of the cross access with the tractor supply and one here off of State Road
50. And you can see this area is the portion kind of beginning the beginnings
of a cross access in that area. And as mentioned that is intended to be
dedicated to the town.
So here's a lands here is the proposed landscape plan. Should be noted as I
mentioned both the civil and landscape the entire plan set that does comprise
the preliminary subdivision plan that will be tied to the companion
development agreement for this proposed reszoning. As you can see here, I did
want to highlight, it's a little hard to see at this scale, but during the when
the project went before the appearance review board meeting, there was a
semi-informal discussion about the desire to have a little bit more
landscape screening in between the commercial buildings and the educational
facility to the north. This was not list this was not explicitly listed as a
condition of the project's approval by the appearance review board but upon
going to the planning and zoning board the applicant group did incorporate the
additional screening which you can faintly see through in between the
clusters of trees along the northern side of the property.
So as mentioned uh with this resoning there will need to be a set of
guidelines by which the development is to build to. So part of the companion
development agreement is outlining what what kind of tenants can go into these
spaces. The list is wide ranging as you can see here um quote unquote limited to
commercial retail office restaurant with no more than one drive-thru. That's an
important caveat. Educational and clinic uses. It also does specifically outline
what cannot go into these facilities which as noted here are smoke and
tobacco shops and marijuana dispensaries and shops.
In addition to this, there are specific outlined negotiated deviations from the
standard code requirements that were negotiated and are incorporated into the
language of the development agreement. As as an example, explicitly in the text
of the development agreement is the allowance for commercial buildings to
along State Road 50 to go up to 240 ft in width to account for the size and
visibility. Whereas the general land development code, as an example, allows
large store building types to go up to 150 ft in width. And it should be noted
that the preliminary subdivision plan is incorporated as an exhibit, but is only
the governing reference document. Um, in order for instruction to actually begin
on this project, it still would need to go through final engineering review at
which point we would make sure we would go through the town review team to make
sure that all the elements would work or designed properly. And it's at that
point that we would also ensure that all outside permitting entities such as the
water management district, Orange um Orange County and the like um have
reviewed and provided their approval of the proposal.
So, as part of this, separate from those variations that are baked into the
development agreement through the ability of the appearance review board
to make recommendations on dimensional variances to the town's to the town's
design district requirements, the applicant did provide a specific list of
several variances that they were that they prop proposed and were reviewed by
both the ARB and planning the appearance review board and the planning and zoning
board.
So briefly touching on those um variations here, the first is commercial
building fenistration, the measure of openings in the facade of the building.
The town's general code requires 60% building fenestration on all public or
right-of-way facing portions of a building. an alternative measure or
methodology was con uh proposed by the applicant group for a variety of reasons
not or I guess most significantly because of the large elevation required
by the retaining wall. A lot of the commercial foot traffic is going to be
focused on the interior rather than you know having somebody climb the retaining
wall to reach the buildings walking along the sidewalk on State Road 50.
The last two do pertain to monument signage. The town does allow a single
groundmounted sign per development as part of the proposal, and we'll touch on
locations and designs a little later in the presentation, but the applicant does
propose three monument signs rather than one. In addition to that, two for two of
those signs, they are requesting the maximum copy area to be 51 square feet,
whereas the land development code does pro for properties or for projects along
State Road 50, uh, by definition, it does allow 48 square feet. So 3-foot
addition there.
So, I'll go through these fairly quickly, but here we're just going to go
building by building to take a look at the proposed elevations and design of
these buildings. And I did, because it did get confusing when I was making
this, I did have a helpful little key here to show you which building we are
looking at. So, here we're looking at one of the interior buildings.
This is an example of one of the buildings directly fronting State Road
50. Another interior.
The other building directly on State Road 50.
This one has its end cap facing Katherine Ross Road. Lastly, this is the
building that has its primary frontage along Katherine Ross Road. Now, the last
two are a little bit different. So this is a proposed two tenant building list
on the southoutheast west I'm sorry southwest portion of the property and as
mentioned the development agreement does restrict a maximum of a single
drive-through facility and this is the general proposed design of what that
drive-through building would look
Now, here are preliminary design renderings of what the proposed signs
look like. So, as you can see here on this on the key plan, there are proposed
to be two of these, and these are the primary, as you can say, shopping center
signs that show the list of tenants. There's proposed to be one at the
entrance, the primary entrance on State Road 50 and another at the secondary
entrance on Katherine Ross Road. And here you can see kind of the
keyynote sign which will have a few anchored which is proposed to have a few
anchor tenants but would more serve as a introduction visibility
um provide visibility for the project.
So going a little bit into the staff analysis as mentioned the project is
located within the town's urban corridor design district and the intent of this
design district is to accommodate mixeduse projects larger scale
developments on major transportation corridor
and through that the proposed development is consistent due to its
supporting of commercial uses with local and regional accessibility along a major
commercial thoroughare there. Additionally, the project would
facilitate the redevelopment of an underutilized and vacant property along
that major transportation corridor and it and could facilitate economic
investment and support job creation within the town.
Looking at where the project has been before this evening, it was re reviewed
by the appearance review board at their August 4th meeting. Um, ARB did
recommend unanimously to approve the project as presented, including the
requested deviations. The same can be said of the planning and
zoning board at last week's meeting on August 18th.
So, that being said, staff does find the
proposed Oakland Town Center substantially compliant with the town's
Land Development Code design district requirements and do recommend approval
of ordinance 2026-05 as presented and provided with your
agenda item. Looking to the next steps, the project
would next go before you all as a town commission again for second for second
and final reading on September 9th. And that does conclude staff's
presentation, but the applicant almost the entirety of the applicant group is
here and um they also have a presentation that they would like to
give you. So I'm available for any questions or we can wait till after they
speak. Thank you all.
» Good evening, mayor and commissioners. Logan Obsol 215 North Yola Drive, land
use council for the project. And thank you, Taylor. Taylor's done this
presentation three times now and has done a great job every time. So, thank
you. Um, I I'll go through my presentation rather briefly because
again, Taylor gave you a really good in-depth overview, but want to offer the
commission some some visuals of the project um and what it looks like
because it's we're really excited to make this kind of a entrance to to the
town. Um so so here are some of the renderings and I think what you pick up
from this is is the unique look not just of one buildings but all the building
you know there was a lot of discussion both at ARB and and planning uh about uh
the finestration and and the look and I I'll get to that in a moment but uh what
you'll see in these following slides is the way this project's organized and
laid out um is a way to to allow uh folks to gather a true destination for
the town. Um, and then also have some practical considerations like pedestrian
safety and site circulation, those sorts of items. We can go to the next slide.
» Yeah. So, we go back one real quick. Yeah. I just want to address this one
here because this was discussed at at planning commission. Um, and again, that
goes to pedestrian safety. You again, you'll see this on other slides, but the
way that this project is laid out, it's not just one straight line of of tenon
bays. Um, what you see there, particularly in the bottom right hand
corner, is a lot of features, uh, water features, courtyards, again, gathering
places, um, and and all the while allowing for, uh, safe pedestrian
safety, uh, and then vehicle site circulation as well. Go to the next
slide.
So some of the features here, not just the water features, but the lighting,
the courtyards. Uh there are bays all around this project, some behind the
buildings and on the side, but a focus on that courtyards to allow people uh to
gather and connect and and have some some really strong viability for these
tenants. We can go to the next slide. So we'll talk a little bit about the
signs as well. Um, you know, a lot of work's been going into this project to
get us here tonight. And and Taylor talked about that, the PUD ordinance,
the development agreement that goes with it, of course, the site plan. Um, all of
which uh represents monthsl long and year plus of of work uh with your staff
and coordinating. Um, PUB zoning ordinances and jurisdictions, when I
discuss them, right, I always say they're negotiated zoning standards. um
they allow for what can be allowed on a project, but also what can't be. Um and
all of those items as it relates to design standards ensure that the project
meets or exceeds your code standards. And where they don't, uh there's certain
trade-offs to allow for a logical and successful site design. Now, the three
that's before you tonight that differ slightly from the code that are
specifically being called out is the finestration, the monument sign, and
then the sign square footage. uh 60% building fenestration is the code
requirement and we're offering a blend of those percentages. So some meet and
exceed and and some are slightly below but that's twofold. One is to provide a
unique look across the project again not just that bland uh strip that you that
you typically see in other areas and also functionality uh of of the tenant
bays. This is a direct response in the design by architecture team and our
engineering team of of what the market is is demanding from tenants and we'll
talk about those in a second. The the second is the monument signs uh the
three versus one and and Taylor showed you on the site plan how those are laid
out. Um and you'll see in in other slides and including this one it also
helps to break up uh some of the retaining wall area. Um, but this is
also serves the important use of placemaking
uh and wayfinding. You know, this is out on 50. It's a it's a high-speed road, so
we want to make sure folks see the signs and and what's being offered there, but
also too, this is a gateway into the town. Um it's this is something you know
Alex came up um on previous hearings and he he talked a lot about some of the
class A tenants that we're looking to attract here that you see in Winter Park
that you see in Winter Garden. But what we're offering with this design um is
something that's uniquely Oakland and and with that came the name. And then we
want to make sure that we have attractive signs to to attract people to
the town to this development and and what's being offered. Um and the last is
the signage square footage which is the We're suggesting 51 square footage
versus the the 48. So, just a slight deviation there. I think now's a good
time while we while we look at the tenants signage to uh talk a little bit
about some of the tenants that we're looking to attract here.
» Hey everybody, I'm Alexi with Collers. I'm a brokerage company based in
Orlando, Florida. Um I work on groundup development leasing in in Orlando.
Winter Park Village is one of those that we just finished. um Icon Park and Otown
West in uh Sand Lake and Plum Parkway. Um I've been hired by the team here to
do um the leasing of this project and really try to bring in a very curated
mix of tenants to this project. So we are focused on some great restaurant
anchor tenants that are new to market or even local restaurants that are very
popular and wellknown. Um so some of the tenants for example that we're talking
to is Agave Aul who could be a great anchor for this project right up in
front. Um, Baratalia is another one that we recently signed in Winter Park and
they're still looking for new opportunities as well. Sushi Saint and
Good Salt Group are local restaurants here in Orlando. They're very local
favorites and they're voted, you know, best of Orlando regularly. So, those are
restaurants that are looking for new opportunities. And we're since there's
not too much capacity right now in Winter Garden on Plant Street and
Claremont's kind of capped out, we're a great spot for these restaurants to look
at and feed both of those markets. Um some of the other tenants that we're
looking at some dessert curated users like your Jenny's Blended Ice Cream,
Salt and Straw and Mayday Ice Cream also looking in the area. And then of course
looking for some great curated local shops that uh coffee shops where people
can sit and work and spend some time and where community kind of comes together.
And a part of that, you know, the signage is important and the 16,000
square feet of amenity space that we have with these big courtyards. That's
an opportunity for these communities to come together and gather. Restaurant
patios are super important here as well. Um and then of course targeting some
great local services, you know, service related uses that are really going to
feed daily needs. And then health and wellness concepts. Um so Solid Core
Pilates is another group that's looking out here. Barry's Boot Camp and Pause.
Um which is one of those like sauna, you know, uh cold plunge type places. And
then breakfast is huge. With the church being next door, we definitely want like
a great fullervice breakfast concept. So, we're talking with Purvea and
Motech. Those are concepts out of Miami um that have multiple locations and very
great healthy farmtotable type food. Thank you.
» Thank you, Lexi. >> Do we hear anything about macaronis and
meatballs anywhere in there?
» We found our new uh anchor tenant right there.
We can go to the next slide, please.
So, in addition to the signage, uh I think that this slide does a good job of
of demonstrating the landscaping that'll go on too and and allowing again for
this kind of class A space and and an attractive welcome to the town. Go to
the next slide.
Looking down at the site plan, this slide will help show how the signs are
uh located on the overall project. that one on the corners that's your bottom
right uh is in front of the retaining wall area um and there's also some storm
water compensation areas there as well um and I believe the next slide has
landscape
yeah thank you so Taylor Taylor discussed this as well during staff's
presentation but one of the items we we heard back from ARB uh was having some
additional landscaping so our team got right on and amended our landscape plan
to provide for some additional landscaping which is up there in the top
right corner of the site plan to allow to some some break up of the viewshed
there. Um and then also importantly that rightaway area which I think is going to
be a huge benefit to the connectivity of the town um and access to this to this
town center as well. Just have one slide. Yeah. So, uh, wanted to touch a
little bit too on the economic economic impact that this project can provide to
the town. So, I'm gonna invite up Castell to talk a little
» Good evening everyone. Mr. Mayor, [sighs]
commissioners, um, we're very excited about this project obviously and um, we
rent some some numbers for you and we try to be actually conservative. So what
you see here is what we're anticipating probably you know the first couple of
years as the uh development grows and um like Alex mentioned a couple of uh weeks
ago would rather normally just underpromise and overd deliver. So, we
think as far as, you know, uh the private project investment, you know,
it's going to be somewhere around 20 to $25 million. And, uh, we wanted to just
kind of show you how a tax revenue would look at an assessed value of 20 to $30
million, which would be probably, like I said, around inception in the first
couple of years. And, um, we're looking at a total annual property tax value,
you know, of up to 610,000. And we actually broke down the town's portion
of that. And you see that on the last column. So we have, you know, 135 to
203,000 a year in actual town um benefits. But of course, as you know, um
a lot of that six 10 will go to schools and so on and so forth. So we would
think there's probably an benefits and um as the project grows, as you probably
all know, most likely assessed value will grow with it, too. So we expect
these two to grow, but we wanted to give you a bit of a a bit of a start. So we
can go to the next slide. And um we also understand that you know of course
there's direct property tax impact but there's other benefits to the town. So
one of them would be um you know employment and we put as local jobs
because we think it will attract a lot of u a lot of um you know local local
employment and we estimate permanent jobs anywhere from 450 to 550. Uh we've
used you know standard u per square foot data to just kind of you know give you a
bit of an estimate. Um we try to just kind of blend, you know, from the blend
of tenants and everything. We expect about a4 million dollars a year in
business activity and um um you know, just payroll alone probably 18 to 20
million. Um and then you see the total sales tax uh generated would probably
you know think it's going to be around $2 million a year. And um I hope you're
just as excited as we are. You know, we're hoping to beat these numbers. Our
success is your success and your success is ours. So um I think with that turn it
back unless you had any questions on this
go to the next slide. Uh and I'll just conclude here again a lot of work has
gone into this project and excited and exciting is the adjectives we keep
using. Um this this project in this area it's it's a no-brainer and and this is a
this is something that we view as really successful. We spent a lot of time
working with FD and other applicable permitting agencies uh to take care of
some of the site constraints and the design. And uh I just want to again
thank your staff for for all of the considerable time and effort they put
into this. We're excited to get this project going. We're happy to answer any
questions. Thank you. >> Thank you, Logan. Appreciate it. Um
let's do this first. This is an ordinance. It is a public hearing. So,
let's open it up to anybody in the public. Then we'll bring it back to our
the table here and then we'll ask our questions on that. Does anybody in the
audience have any questions or anything? Yes.
Claire, there's a seat up here if you want to sit. There's a seat up here. You
good?
» Ed would offer you
Ed Kulicowski 51 Vanir Street. So, uh, so I think this project is is pretty
nice and I think it'll add a lot of value to us. But I do have two
questions. Number one, if if I understand the plan correctly, there's
going to be a retaining wall along State Route 50. I'm curious how tall that's
going to be. Um, that that will be a real visual impediment to uh getting
into this project, especially if it's really tall. And so I'd like to hear the
developers comments on that. Number two, I'd like to uh understand the
development plan. Is this going to be a phased development where we have a few
buildings and get some tenants and then build some more or is it going to be
accomplished as a single build uh and open for uh for teny and business as as
a whole complete project? >> You guys want to address those?
Good evening. Brent Lensen with Kimley Horn, the engineer of record for the
project, 200 South Orange Avenue, Sweet 600. Um, so the topography, I was hoping
this question would come up because the team did a great job presenting, but I
was hoping I'd have some sort of role here tonight. Um,
hold, please. >> I like hers better. [laughter]
So, as Taylor mentioned in the presentation,
the rectangle that's held out that prevents this whole property being a
rectangle is the existing tractor supply. So, if you look at that site
when it was developed, there's an existing dry retention pond to the right
side of it on the east side. And that dry retention detention area does
benefit some of the property area that this proposed development is a part of.
The nuance is if you come in the site right on the entrance to tractor supply,
you can realize those out parcels right along 50 are much lower. Hydraulically,
we know water can't flow uphill. So storm water wise, you have to raise the
site to get water up to the dry pond. In addition, for the balance of the site,
we are conveniently or inconveniently located within a recharge basin area
where you're required to first flush storm water through dry pre-treatment.
So it forces infiltration into the aquifer. Um, we have additional nutrient
requirements for being in a popka basin. So, from a design standpoint, apologies
for the technical jargon, but this is not a great storm water management basin
to be in. Um, so there's additional storage, treatment, nutrient removal
required. So, all those things being said, that's why that large rectangular
white space you see on the plan is an expanded dry retention area. Um, and
then what can't get to that area, you'll see on the lower right hand corner
there's the boomerang. So that is an elevated higher dry pre-treatment and
then it gets to the triangular lower pond area which is going to be your
traditional wet detention storm water pond. So that's the pond that'll have
water in it all the time. All those other areas will be dry. Um, so all that
to say this project is really all those regulations are required by St. John's
River Water Management District. uh we have secured a permit through St. John's
River Water Management District for this project and to make the master
infrastructure and storm water management work. That is why the site
has to be up as high as it is. Um so as you come along 50 and you start at the
entry on the far left side of this plan, you'll start with a wall that ultimately
holds up higher as 50 drops down there. So at the main entry, that rotating wall
is going to be close to 10 feet tall. And that's just the reality like Taylor
mentioned that the true dimension from the far or elevation from the far
northwest corner where the tractor supply pond is to the water in the
existing ditch of the southeast, it's 18 feet. It goes from a 114 to a 96.
There's a lot of grade change. It's it's misleading. I drove by the site again
this this evening coming here. I was like, man, it doesn't look like 18 feet,
but it truly is. Um, so there's a lot of engineering challenges that force the
plan to demand a retaining wall along 50. Um, there are some challenges with
that. I can understand from a visibility standpoint, but truly the way this
project has been designed to almost internally centralize the focus of the
development. The intent is to really separate from 50. 50 is not a very
pedestrian walkable corridor. Um, so within this development, having the
multiple buildings facing each other, it creates more of a town center feel,
which is what the project's really being designed for.
That's kind of how we've had to counteract the topography and the
elevation change throughout the site. I hope that helped answer that question.
[laughter] >> That's the highest by the height of that
ceiling right there, man. >> Mayor, commissioners, my name is Alex
Ree. I'm one of the managers in the project. Um, from a lease up standpoint,
the uh the goal is is to do a single build. It's really predicated on tenant
uh lease up, right? because you don't want to build something and not have a
tenant there. There's a there's a lot of specs that go into each individual
tenant. So, some tenants want, you know, different courtyard stuff. They want
different things in their building, whether it's grease traps or restroom
locations or things. So, our idea as it sits now is to do the engineering at one
time and kind of get it pad ready and and lease up the project. Again, we're
going to ICSE at the end of the uh at the end of the the month and we've got a
lot of appointments. Um this is a very very very popular
site. Uh thank goodness. It's um it's a when we first got the engineering, we
about fell out of our chair. All right. Because nobody wants to build a 10-ft
retaining wall and nobody wants to put $7 million in engineering work on a
site, right? That's that was crazy. Uh what we've kind of come away with is
this creates an oasis for the town. You know, you kind of have to make lemonade
sometimes out of lemons. And so the way this sits up now, it'll have a lot of
privacy. It'll cut down all the road noise from Highway 50. It'll give a very
unique feel to the center. You're not going to feel like you're on Highway 50.
You're going to feel like you're in a a place way off of Highway 50 with
fountains and nice pedestrian walkways and nice landscaping. It's going to feel
very different. We've added golf cart parking as well. And our goal is to
create a very winter park, winter garden feeling to this, right? We want to we
want to bring something to the community that everybody in the community
participates in and comes over and wants to have dinner, wants to do something in
this particular town center. Um, we're very proud of it. We named it uh Oakland
Town Center because we wanted to be a marquee for the town of Oakland. Um, we
think that this is going to help bridge uh, Highway 50, if you will, into the
town in a very nice, meaningful way. Uh, and I hope we do have a full lease up.
We'll know more about that. Maybe on the second reading I can answer that in more
detail, you know, but we do have a lot of great interested tenants that we're
very grateful that we have. There's a lot of interest because of the close
proximity to Horizon's West obviously to the south.
You know, Winter Garden right to the east and you have Claremont to the west.
You and you're blocked by, you know, Lake Aapka. So, there's just a lot of
trips per day through here. And there's a lot of uh how should I put this? the
the the type of uh folks that live in these areas are very in high demand for
a lot of these retailers and a lot of these uh food businesses and stuff. So,
to that end, um we're very excited. So, hopefully that answered the the question
for you. >> Thanks, Alex. I like how you put the
success and failure on this project on the leasing broker. So, that's good. Uh
yeah, absolutely. Any anyone else have any questions or comments in the public?
Okay. So, seeing nothing else, we'll close the public hearing and bring it
back here. And Commissioner Keller, do you want to start off?
» I have a few things, but I first I want to say that I'm very excited about this
project. I think it is um wonderful that you all see the potential here. Um I did
cheat and watch the PNZ meeting because I wanted to get some more information.
So, I was excited to hear about some of the entities that are considering space
and whatnot. So, um, and again, thank you for thinking of Oakland. So, I have
a couple of things. They might sound a little nitpicky, I have to confess, but
I there are things that I think are kind of important to address. And I'll just
start with the first one which again love the project but I'm a little
concerned about the Oakland Town Center because we do have our town center here
that we kind of consider the core of the town the historic downtown of our of our
town and um we do have plans to do you know development down Tub Street and
whatnot. So, um, personally, I understand wanting to call that.
Again, I love the feel of that space and how it's going to be, but that's just
something that I don't know if anybody else has any feelings about that, but I
definitely um want to put that out there and anyone else can. Obviously, I'm one
vote. We're all one vote. Um, it's not a deal breakaker, but it's just something
that I think is important because we do have our downtown center here and I just
want to make sure we don't take away from that. So, that would be something
that is important to me. Um, another thing is the and again I understand
there's going to be a ginormous retaining wall along 50, but um,
particularly I think it's really I think it's building two and three that the the
ones that or two and four that front Highway 50 above the wall. Um, from the
illustrations and the renderings that I've seen, I don't love that kind of
back a house look. Um I've been out of town so I didn't have the chance to I
wanted to drive through Winter Park and kind of see how 1792 looks because yes
um it is elevated and we want to drive everybody to that center core. This
really is kind of becoming and you said it yourself a gateway to our town. So,
um, I have some concerns about just the backs of those buildings and how they
ba, you know, even at a above a wall. I'd like to see something to I drove by
like I drove down Sand Lake Road and I looked at like the Trader Joe's and the
developments along Sand Lake Road that have some back of house and they've
basically made those back of those buildings look as similar to the front
of the building. So, that would be something that I would like to possibly
see. uh that could be addressed better. Um or even with landscaping just to make
that not so look like the back of a building as you're driving through the
gateway of our town, right? Um so bear with me. I'm trying to remember all my
scribble here. So, um I'd also be open to if you guys have other developments
where you've done this kind of frontage, if you want to give us some ideas on
that, I'd be interested in going to see those.
And the only other thing is the Katherine Ross Road signage. Um, my only
concern is, you know, that's kind of a it's become a main street to cut through
to 50, but the fact that it's kind of residential and there's a neighborhood
there. Don't love that big sign on Katherine Ross. I'm okay with the other
ones and especially that one on the corner I think kind of covers. I know
it's only going to be anchored tenants, but I feel like it addresses folks on
Katherine Ross. Kathern Ross Road isn't going to, in my opinion, be like a major
thoroughfare, but I think it is good to have an access point from Katherine Ross
Road. So, those are the kind of the things that are important to me.
» You guys want to address anything that >> Yeah. Yeah.
I think from a from aation perspective off of 50, I think um what you'll find
is that we've we've really made those buildings look not like back of house.
Like it's not like a flat building, right? We've we've taken a lot of the
architecture and the only thing that it's missing is windows, right? It's
missing a window component. Um the buildings are up very high, so it will
be very difficult to see it going by, but there's a lot of landscaping. The
landscaping is probably going to be the biggest buffer. And so I would say that
I think that's been addressed, but I would love to get down with like like
maybe get a sit down with you on those buildings particularly and just walk
through those buildings. I do want to make clear that um all of your comments
are very important to us. Okay. I I uh as a developer, we want to have, you
know, we want every vote. We don't want a a majority. We want every single vote
here, and we're willing to work for those votes. I think, case in point, um
we put some landscaping on the back of the project because there was a uh a
person in one of the meetings that was not uh satisfied with the landscaping
buffer between our project and the school, which I thought was a was a good
idea. We've also added golf cart parking, which was suggested at the last
meeting. My point is like this project's already fairly expensive and if we have
to do a few things to make sure that you're satisfied with the project, we're
happy to do those things. Um, did you want to hit on the other
» mentions? Yeah, I I do think they're they're great questions and we we really
thought about that actually and and especially the buildings you mentioned.
Um, so of course the retaining wall left aside, we thought, okay, well, how can
we even make that better? So, um, and and we don't have the full renderings
here because we try to keep the presentation just a little shorter. Um,
I can even probably send you something that's a a lot more specific to those
buildings so you can kind of have a bit of a visual. So, what we did there is,
of course, you know, we we added um additional landscaping at the top of the
u the wall. And as far as the elevation itself, we kept it identical on the
front and the back. So both sides are actually identical. So we kept all the
articulation and all the beauty of the front except like Alex mentioned uh we
took away the fenestration because in truth we um cost left aside. We actually
thought that um because of the height and because of the landscaping we're
adding um those 10 12t windows were probably not going to be v visible to
begin with. But we did think about that and and purposely um and I can
understand your fear because a lot of buildings the back of the buildings
they're just flat. So, you know, they forgive all the, you know, forget all
the beauty. Um, I'll actually even add further that even the rear buildings
that are facing the dry retention, we kept the back of those identical to the
front, too. So, we kept all of the bumpouts and all the articulation and
everything just to to still, you know, give that beauty. And like I said, I can
send you some visuals that are maybe they'll they'll they'll um make you
understand it a little bit better. the images that I saw and I I wasn't sure I
was get to it where the where those and it's really the like the dry retention
pond the back of those buildings I think is less critical but
» Oh no I agree >> ones on 50 looked and and again just
trying to figure out which building was which building in the renderings I
wasn't really 100% sure but it did just you know like there's one where there's
like a back of a building and there's like a UPS guy you know they're showing
because again fair back of those buildings where they're going to get
delivery So either the back of those buildings need to be dressed up a little
bit or that landscaping needs to be a little bit higher so you're not really
seeing the back of those buildings. >> Again, I understand what you're saying
if you're driving on >> bottom
» the bottom will be Yeah. >> I thought it was Yeah. So
[clears throat] >> and that's going to be 10 feet.
» Yeah. And that doesn't show the retaining wall naturally, right?
» 10 feet from the people on that side of driving down that side of 50. If you're
on the other side, you're going to see the back of that. And you know, again,
this is our gateway to our community. And I just want to make sure that it
looks welcoming for your project success.
» Yeah, 100%. >> And it's again, it's really just those
two buildings that I think are the biggest issue because
» it just looks a little industrial there because it's just the back of the
buildings and >> and it could also be, you know, not to
interrupt you, it could also be a fact. It is a rendering obviously, so the
landscaping, you know, is representative. Um, of course when the
landscape architects and we'll get together with with the town on this too.
Of course, you know, they'll they'll have their say as well and I think this
was discussed a little bit in the past where you know, of course we can add,
you know, something that's that's um, you know, much taller per se. Um, yeah.
And but you can >> guess like the door that
» Yes. And that is because it's directly eye level too. So I can understand that
perfectly. Um if you don't mind I can send you know probably through the town
I can send you a couple additional renderings from pedestrian level
actually on 50 so you can see but which looks a little bit different and with a
little more landscaping and this is what I wanted to point out how the
articulation of the building it's identical to the other side. So we
didn't really do the flat um building for that purpose alone because it was
important for us to um to do that. But I can send you some stuff if that would be
okay. Um reminded me one of the things that I forgot to mention and again I
know it's been through ARB already. Um >> I again I think it's beautiful. I do
feel like, you know, I don't, you know, we're it's I'm struggling because like,
you know, we have this like historic downtown and again and this is kind of
new and flashy and I think it's great, but I I was surprised that ARB didn't I
don't know if they I didn't watch their meeting so I don't know what they
addressed, but about, you know, the aesthetic being a little more of our
charm for our town. Um I don't want to be a mini winter park. I want us to be
uniquely open, you know, and I think that personally I would like to see it
maybe a little more old Florida like that's what like my neighborhood was
required to do when we built the houses were built at my neighborhood and some
of the other house you know developments that's been a thing that you know we've
looked at with those um the houses in those neighborhoods was kind of more
that old Florida and uniquely Florida. I think there's a way to still do that and
still get the kind of clientele that we're hoping for. But again, that again,
that's just my personal feeling. >> No, and I think it's, you know, it's a
fair point. We It's really tough, right? Because we've thought of so many things
and and we've really considered everything. Obviously, you know, we try
to think of the community, try to think of the architecture, uh, quality of it,
of course, the economic visibility because they all just go together. So,
it's like you can't really do one without the other. Um, we try to make it
as beautiful as possible. Of course, I'm not going to repeat the outdoor areas or
whatever. Even in our architecture, we try to if you look at I mean, I know the
renderings are a little smaller, but um we have two different architectural
styles that are complementing each other. So, and that allows us to have
buildings that are different in although they keep the general, you know, design
and look, um but you don't have that retail center where it's like every
building is a cookie cutter. they only have two sets of buildings that are um
if you want to call it identical, but it's because they're split by courtyard.
Um another thing we did is um and this is just kind of an indirect answer to
your question because you know it's it's hard for obviously you know that's it's
hard to um to change the architecture at this point but even on the variance of
um you know the extending the building width to 220 ft I believe it's what it
was um we decided not even to use the maximum of that. We've actually split up
a lot of the buildings. So, we um we try to like like Alex said, just to make it
as >> good for you as possible.
» Very old Florida. The landscaping, right? If you look at the landscaping,
we used a great deal of of palm trees and made it kind of old Florida in that
regard because we don't want to lose that as well. I mean, here's the thing.
We're not trying to come in and do some shiny project, right? We're our goal is
to drive something that feels like it belongs here. Okay? I think that was
kind of the um the benefit frankly of having it raised up, you know, because
when it first was raised up, we thought the project was just not feasible. I
mean, it was there was a period of time where it looked like, hey, with the kind
of engineering work that it's going to take to do this project, this is better
suited for, you know, something other than us. And uh and so over time, kind
of the benefit of of being on Highway 50 is that rents have gone up. and the
rents that have gone up have sort of allowed us to fund a project like this.
This is a very very nice project. It's a it's definitely not a cookie cutter
project. It's a highclass project. Yes, it's a forward-looking
uh architecture. Um but it's not leaving Oakland behind forward. It's the the
landscaping and the lushness of it I think really helps blend kind of what's
modern today with what is still, you know, Oakland. I I I think it goes well
with the city. Obviously, you know, everyone is entitled to their to their
opinion, but I really like it for the town. I think the landscaping alone and
the height of it is going to create this oasis for for the town to come and and
gather. So, as far as the sound sign on Katherine Ross,
the reason we added that sign uh was the fact that we felt like there were going
to be quite a few people coming down Katherine Ross that would want to know
what's in the center without having to get on 50. and that marquee, albeit if
you are turning on Katherine Ross, you do see those four uh key tenants, if you
will, but when you turn on to Katherine Ross, you you don't see the majority of
the tenants in in the center. And what we thought is we thought hoped if you
will, we hoped that a lot of people in the town came over and they were on golf
carts and and came from the town and they could see what was in the center
through that sign and that was kind of a gateway for them to to look at and see
and recognize those tenants that again we're trying to inventory this. Um, you
guys did a uh a study about seven or eight years ago and uh and I read that
study and and what what I took away from that study was that you guys wanted a
lot of restaurants that were like farm-to-table good quality stuff like
quality food restaurants. We're not slapping this full of, you know, Fortune
500 companies, right? This isn't, you know, McDonald's and Chick-fil-A and,
you know, everything else. And and a lot of that is uh a lot of those deals are
deal driven, meaning that you know the reason Chick-fil-A goes somewhere and
the reason a lot of these big majors go places is because they sell for a cap
rate and their cap rates are very low. And so from a financial perspective,
they're very desirable to have in a center, right? So we kind of uh I mean
obviously in some respects I I just want you to understand like the the dollars
and cents of this. We shun that and we said no, we don't that's not our goal
here. Our goal is to create something that's going to survive the next 10, 20,
30 years and grow with the town and have a lot of boutique feel to it. And when I
suggest Winter Park or or Winter Garden, I'm not suggesting that we want to make
it, you know, Winter Park or Winter Garden. What I'm suggesting is what
those towns have done very well, I think, is they've kept like a very
boutique feel to their town. It's a very unique feel, right? They didn't you
don't they didn't sell out to just all these major retailers. And that's what
I'm saying when I talk about that. I'm I'm I'm saying that we're not going to
do that. We're not going to bring in, you know, all Fortune 500 companies and
all these big mass uh you know, retailers. So, was there there's one
more question that you had? Um I I for I apologize. The name I'm happy to change
the name, right? If you guys want to change the name, I'm happy to change the
name. We thought the name was cool. I like the name because of the fact that
it was Oakland Town Center. I wanted to we wanted to advertise it as a town
center feel. But your point is well taken. We do not want to cannibalize
your town center and we do not want to take over your town center. So I'm happy
to come to the next reading with five different names and we can all talk
about the names. That's easy change and it's not like we're beholden to that. So
that's easy. Thank you for considering that because I think it's an amazing
project and I and I don't want to have things that make you scared to not come
here and not do this because we >> No, we're not scared. I mean, look, this
is a partnership, right? And we need feedback from from everyone here. Uh
it's a partnership. I mean, you're trusting us and we're trusting you. This
is a lot of money for our group. All right. Um you know, we're not Unicor,
right? That's a big project for us. And so we're here to do something that's a
that's a big project that we've picked Oakland to do it in because we think the
city uh is ready for this project and we think the
people that we've worked with have been super supportive of the project. But
honestly, we think it's going to be feasible for us to make money on this
project. Uh we're not looking to to to to make all the money in the world on
this project. We're looking to develop a project that everyone in this room can
be proud of that project. That's the goal.
» I think that's great. We think Oakland's a very special town and I think this is
a very special project and we're glad that you're considering doing it here.
» Thank you. Thank you very much. >> That for me.
» All right. We'll go to Commissioner Molly.
» Good evening. I just have a few points and I guess I will um begin by tail
ending some a few of the concerns that um Commissioner Keller brought up. Um
the name to me was the town center. Again, um I think that with the
comprehensive plan that we've developed for what we consider to be our town
center, that project just would not be the center of the town. Um so that's my
commentary on that. However, I will expound on, you know, our quest for
commercial development. I think that this is a project that is much needed
and desired in the area. Um, the plans are diversity of design, are attractive,
um, and and brings a little character and and maybe people to the town that,
you know, aren't familiar or pass through and want to be a part of this
community. So I think that in that vein we've got diversity of down we've got
fourth and tub we've got this and then the comprehensive plan will come later
which will address you know some of the character and the intimate nature and
details that we want to preserve in the town. My only question with regard to
the landscape plan would be um the area of enhanced screening um between the
educational space. I kind of wanted to get a a better idea of the visibility
um and and plan for that separation of the educational space with the project.
» So as that graphic gets pulled up,
» so the let's keep it simple. The larger circles are canopy trees. So, the
initial plan did have the significant cluster towards the right side. Sorry,
I'm way taller than this microphone. Um, they had the significant cluster on the
right side already on the plan for buffering. And then we had the spots
along the storm water management pond, but what has been added is hard to see
in this image is the dark black strip is a hedge row. Um, so that'd be something
along the lines of a viburnum, podarpus, something like that that you'd plant
probably at three or four foot plant height. Um, but that can grow to be
substantial seven, eight feet easily edged out. So, it's a more opaque buffer
along that facade just to add some screening from the school.
We can work with staff during the the engineering and site plan approvals just
to make sure the planted height is appropriate for having screening day one
instead of five years later you actually have shrub that you can't see through.
» Okay. Thank you.
Okay. So, we've determined that that retaining wall is 10 feet tall going
down 50 and heading to the west. It kind of goes down a little bit. Is that
correct?
» That's just kind of half where I'm going. But
» yeah, I I want to make sure the image isn't the whole frontage of 50 is a 10
foot wall because it will not. You're you're going to start at almost nothing
on the left end of the screen. Start getting it from nothing. It's going to
grow to 10 feet at the main entry driveway. Then it's going to go to about
six feet as you get towards the storm water management pond and turn in
basically go around that triangular >> that
» so it's not a solid 10 foot blank wall. >> So when it goes around the corner on
Katherine Ross Road um >> so what it won't
» massic and it took me like 20 years to be able to say so [laughter]
um when it goes around there same thing. >> So it won't go around Kathern Ross road.
So what you see on the plan is we're going to wall up basically that dry
storm water we'll call it for today's purposes the boomerang pond. So that'll
be up higher at a higher elevation and it's going to drop down to where that
wet triangular okay wet pond is. So that pond you see on the corner is going to
be at grade. It'll be a traditional when you're at Katherine Ross and 50 there's
no walls right there. >> I got it.
» Okay. And so and I'm assuming the road to be built is going to probably go
right back behind the school. >> Correct. Between us and the school. So
that will almost that will be ground level itself all the way back here. Yes,
sir. So the building is facing there >> will be
» Yeah. grade same as the road. >> Chris's point that you want to make sure
that it's just not a back of a building and I understand it's backing up to the
school, but there's a few people on the west end of it too that it would go
behind. So okay. And then uh to be the downer in the room, I do have
to agree is It's what we need. I And I understand we've been trying to figure
out how to do this for a long time. Uh it is the project that we need, but I
mean I I don't know any other way to put it, but in my mind it does not have an
Oakland look or feel to it. Um we can say the architecture or the the
landscaping, you know, is old Florida, but the buildings are not. And that's a
stumbling point for me. I don't know if it's a it's not a deal closure at this
point, but it definitely doesn't look what we've worked for for the last, you
know, forever to be that I'll use the word we haven't used in a long time,
that the Mayberry look. Um, and I don't know if there's anything that
additionally could dress up some of that at some point or if we're too far past
that.
Yeah, I mean we we got a little bit of time for the second reading. So, we'll
we'll take a look at those things. Um I can't do it as eloquently as Castell and
Alex, but a lot of thought went into this. Um your points are well taken. I
think they call that Florida vernacular. Correct. So, we'll look into those items
for a second. >> Yeah. Just something we be honest with
you that was a stumbling block with the racetrack for 10 years before we moved
forward till we could come to an agreement on what it was. I mean, that's
how much we really want, you know, that look
to be. But again, the project is what we need here. So, there's not a I don't
feel that I would want to stop this project. Don't don't get me wrong. But
if there's a way that we can make it look a little more glory, I guess for
the the [laughter] word, that's the Jimmy Buffett word, Floridaity.
» One one thing I wanted to mention is uh you know, we we did add a lot of
cladding. a lot of brick. I know it's not very visible in the small
renderings, but you'll find that a lot of the pillars and, you know, next to
the tenant spaces, you know, we did add some of that brick that kind of reminds
you of Oakland. So, and I understand your point perfectly. It's not, you
know, a picture perfect of um identical with Oakland, but we did do that. Um,
you know, another way to do it, it's lighting, too. Um, you know, and we
also, um, chose the colors intentfully as well because we wanted to be warm and
not just like a cold modern look. So, um, and to Logan's point, you know, we
of course we'll kind of brainstorm a little bit, too, but I wanted to bring
up the cladding because it is harder to see in the smaller renderings. So, okay.
» Um, yeah. Well, I appreciate it. >> Thank you.
» I could just say, so I think it sounds like we just need some different
renderings. It sounds like you've already kind of made some things that it
just these renderings look very modern and very square and and I think you know
maybe it's just that you've got it sounds like you have better renderings
that would maybe be more in line with what we're
» that's definitely what we want to do. We want to bring new renderings and and
share those with you guys with the wall and everything and share the lighting
that Costell mentioned. there was a lot of uh you know, not to harp on it, but
the lighting is more of an old school look and so with the landscaping. So, I
do we do want to share those with you because we did it wasn't lost on us that
we wanted this to look kind of old Florida. It's just this is the type of
construction that is being done right now, too. And so, it's um in the sense
of tenants and and whatnot. Um and there was a you know, I hate to get into it,
but this is the best looking budget construction. Like if you get
into just doing everything a completely, you know, different uh elevation, the
cost can be get just astronomical. It can be kind of like almost impossible to
do a project in that in that regard. >> Okay.
» Do your best.
» Good. Uh okay. Mine uh mine's I'm going to d I'm going to dive into more of the
developer agreement on on some things. I think Again, I'll echo I it's a it's a
great project. I'm excited about it. Um and this may be something between
developer and attorneys and can work out and stuff, but um just on the developers
agreement there is I'm on page three a permitted and prohibited uses. Um one of
the things I brought up was educational facilities. I know that some of this is
probably taken from the code as well. When I think of educational facilities,
I think and it specifically says in here, not limited to daycare, prek, and
kindergarten. Um, just to the north is a school with a prek and and a
kindergarten. Uh, and and just down the street is a Kitty Academy that's uh
right there. So, um if there's a way that we can strike that educational
facilities maybe work better with uh if it was a um a tutoring facility or or um
Gary said Crumb was another one or something like that. So, so I mean those
would work because they're kind of more of a retail type thing. I what I would
not want to open it up to is somebody coming in and you leasing it to a
daycare and they say, "Well, I got to put an outdoor space and I'm just going
to use part of this plaza and I'm going to fence it in and stuff." So, if we can
just negate any of that or any of that confusion there, I think that would be
best. So, maybe in that development agreement, we just kind of break through
that uh that that issue. Okay, great. Um, and then the other one I had on that
same section was retail sale of automotive parts. It's not like I want
an AutoZone or anything like that in the plaza. So, um, I don't believe that that
uh neither would anybody else. I mean, you wouldn't want to pull your car up
and the guy walks out with a battery and changes out your car. That gains to stay
there. >> Yeah.
» So, just to give you clarity on why we left that in, we left that in because 30
years from now, right? >> Yeah. We you know yeah I mean in other
words things happen and and so the reason you leave these in is just to
give it's not even for our development so I have no problems taking it out just
be clear why we left it in you want to leave it in with the broadest use
possible for any future development you know 20 years from now 30 years from now
that's the reason it was left out >> agreed 30 years we'll be flying in cars
so absolutely so so we'll we'll we'll just I'll hand these notes to to um the
town and they can they can relay those through you as well um on from the
phasing. I think you answered that question, Ed's question. I had a
question as well. Is it's multiple phases or is it one phase? It's good to
hear that you're going to try to knock it out in one phase and put all the
burden on your leasing agent. Um, >> thanks for the golf cart parking. That's
great. I I think it's going to be a bigger than you think on golf cart
parking with people, the amount of golf carts that are in this town coming from
Winter Garden and everywhere. So, um, thank you for doing that. um lighting um
that you have here on Jay. Um is it possible and I don't think you have it
in there. You're obviously you're gonna have lighting inside the development and
and all that. Um is there a possibility to put lighting along Katherine Ross
along just in front of your pre your your your premises?
You know, it's like street lighting or something like that to look at. Maybe
three lamps or something like that to take a look at. Okay.
With regard to lighting, do we have anything in our code about I know my
predecessor um dark sky and is it in there?
» It's in here. Yeah. >> Yeah. That Rick.
No, it's uh it's definitely in there. Dark skies compliant, which everything
in Orange County has has to be know. But yeah, if you can and I'll leave the
again, it's marked up on the site plan. You can just take a look at that, see if
that's something that we can work together on. Um, and then the other one
you had down here was storm water and environmental. And I noticed that the
Motomassic canal, it cuts in front of your wet retention pond and dry pond is
kind of right there on the edge. Were there any plans to do anything any
treatments to that versus what it looks like today, which is just a ditch?
Is it? Well,
Yeah, we have limitations with what we're actually able to do because it's
within an easement dedicated. It's DOT drainage, but I don't think there is an
intent we're going to tie in prior to that existing drainage canal and not
impact >> because that runs on the property,
right? On the corner. >> Yeah. On the corner. I I just I you
know, take a look at it if you would because the reason being is you you'd
hate to see what it looks like today when you drive through it and you got
this great project and that's the first thing you're going to see is an open
ditch. It's a ditch is what it is. And if there's a way to, I don't know, treat
it, slide, maybe landscaping, maybe hide it where no one sees it or whatever.
That type of that that type of treatment is what I'm talking about. I'm not
talking about dig it up or put it in a box cover or anything like that. I'm
just saying there's a way to kind of >> clean it up and whatnot.
» There was a point years ago that um Mike Parker who went in there and then
cleaned it up very nice since overgrown but that you know that whoever owns that
particular piece because there's like 42 people that own parts of the canal
believe me a lot about it. Um but there nothing says it can't be like
cleaned up and dressed up a little bit because you agree with Mary it looks
pretty bad. >> Sure.
Um, next one I have is the transportation impact fees and and part
of the transportation impact fees uh relate to the construction of Saddler
East Saddler is what it's I guess going to be called uh that runs behind on the
plan. There's a portion I believe that you're constructing as part of the
project which is the hatched area. I don't know if that site plans have
shown. And then there's the other portion that kind of runs half the
tradition bond behind tractor supply on that in this agreement we had an
engineer's opinion of probable cost of $477,000
to construct that road to build that road and within that the town would then
give you credits towards the project for that. Does that that's the picture right
there. Perfect. And does that 477 include the entire length from Kathern
Ross to Star or just the portion that's there?
» Just the portion that's there. >> Right. No. Sorry. Righted
is specifically the rideway dedication portion that's coming as part of this
project. The rest of that stretch already has rightway for it, but that
cost estimate was for the whole entire way.
» Okay. So there's a portion that is there a portion that you're building as part
of your project because you have an entrance coming off
» that entire line. >> Okay. Right. No, what I'm saying is as
part of the project, not part of the impact fee credits. So what I'm saying
is if you're coming off of Kathern Ross, right, where the dark arrow is, and
you're having to build that to get to your entrance, it looks like on that uh
north side, is that development? That's the developers
need prior to coordination with the city or the town on that road, the right
ofway dedication and the road extension. I I believe our intent was to have the
four points of access that were also shown already without that northernmost
connection. >> Okay. I just think there's there must
needs probably be a little more conversation on that in the in the
impact fee credits. I mean, it is I'm I'm all for the impact fee credits. I
think it's great uh if you could do that. I just want to make sure that the
impact fee credits that are being offered um are not, you know, are to the
town's benefit, not to the developers benefit. That make that makes sense, you
know, for your need, right? Um so we we'll take a look at that and and figure
out that one there. Um page here.
So you have on N section N construction trailers of the three construction
trailers whatever is the plan also to try to do uh construction fencing around
the project while construction is happening. Is that something we can do
with scrim or whatever?
Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah,
perfect. It's just not an agreement, so I just wanted to make sure. And and then
I mean it protects you, right? It protects the public and it protects
everybody from getting sued. Um, and then I believe Katherine Ross, and
we'll need to confirm this with Mike, but um, on number four of um, um, the
utilities, I think that stub out for the connection for the water connection in
the hydrant has been put in. We'll just need to to um confirm that, but I
believe it has put in was put in with the construction of Katherine Ross. And
the reason I'm saying that is there's a section here in the event the town has
not commenced construction. If it's already in, we'll just strike that to
make this agreement cleaner so that no one's kind of, you know, I think it is
too. And uh it just makes things a little cleaner. No confusion later down
the road. Somebody else is sitting up there looking at it.
Um, other than that, gentlemen, um, ladies, um, the signage
that you have on there, there's the one that's down by the tractor supply. Is
that yours to maintain or will that be tractor supply? Because there is a there
is a blank plate underneath it. >> That is tractor supply.
» So that's theirs. >> That is that's theirs
» in place as is. >> I I think that's the case. We have no
act we don't own that sign. >> I can give some clarification. And there
is actually a recorded easement for that sign in that location. So that is the
responsibility of Tractor Supply to maintain.
» Okay. So they they maintain it. It's theirs. Yes. Just happens to be sitting
» happens to be on their property. >> Okay. And then Alex, the other thing I
saw on there was the billboard. What's the deal on the Are you going to
» We got rid of the billboard. >> It's gone.
» It's gone. Yeah. It's gone. >> Is it? I haven't noticed.
» Oh, it's gone. Yeah. >> All right.
» We got rid of the billboard a while back.
» Yeah. because we had to we had to get rid of that. That was a Well, that was
terrible. That billboard was horrible. I mean, that billboard had to go.
» Okay. All right. So, that >> they're so hard to get rid of, too. Let
me tell you, that was a process, >> right?
» Yeah, that was a real process to get rid of a billboard.
» Yeah. No, it's great. Um, other than that, great project. I'm excited.
» Thank you. Yeah, >> we're excited to to be here.
» So, um, no other questions from anybody, follow-ups? No. Okay. All right. So,
with that then, let's uh entertain a motion then.
Yeah, there's something Taylor had >> I know. I'm going back to that to see
what I know Taylor included. Um
I think we
made it made it easy for us. >> We have
» That's fine. I think it's uh the record's already clear in the items that
you all want to see back second reading. So we'll work with the uh development
team to get that. If you just want to say as discussed or as presented we can.
» Okay. Like the second one here where he has with conditions.
» Yeah. With the conditions and items discussed. Yep. So, I move to approve
ordinance number 2026-05 with conditions on first reading finding
it compliant with the town's comprehensive plan and land development
code and schedule the ordinance for second reading and public hearing on
September 9th, 2026. >> Okay, second.
» Second. >> All in favor?
» I >> I Okay, good deal. Thank you, sir. We
appreciate you guys. Okay. So, with that out of the way,
we're on to uh our public forum tonight. You guys can Yeah, we'll let you guys
go. Thanks. >> Don't Don't forget messaghetti.
» Macaroni and meatballs. >> Macaroni.
» Yeah, they're sort of us. >> Yeah, I've been with the
» So, uh with that uh conclude, we'll open up to public forum and it's anything
that is not discussed tonight or on the agenda. Does anyone have anything you
want to talk about or hear about? No. Okay.
A lot. Oh, yeah. Jeez, Ed. Oh, just in time.
» Hey, there you go. You You owe me a buck.
» Ed Kulicowski, 51 Vandermir Street. Is there an update on our new proposed cell
tower? I'm sorry, I didn't sell cell cell tower
so I can get cell service at my house. >> There there is not an update. I'm sorry.
» Okay. >> Um I think we've been focused on the
budget >> kind of
» and and uh yes, that is trust me it's it's something Ed that I ask about once
every other week when I see a lease. So that will be uh soon. So yeah. Anyone
else? Anything? Oh yes. Absolutely. Donna,
you haven't been here in a while either, Donna.
» And just a couple quick things. Who maintains the medians in that front area
around tractor supply? It is absolutely horrible. Um, also by that um I think
what y'all are calling that boomerang area by Katherine Ross. There is a
broken manhole cover there on one of the drainage things on the sidewalk and now
the sign is either fallen over. It's kind of dangerous because it's like half
on the sidewalk and half off of the sidewalk. Um it's been broken. I've been
walking now for several months and it's been continually broken. And also who um
just so I can call and and try to get it taken care of because I don't think it's
here. who maintains the mowing along the sidewalk from Katherine Ross all the way
down to where the power sports place is because it's super bad as
» DOT. >> So I need to call DOT about that.
» Once every six months whether or not >> or never.
So okay >> and you're right all that along Highway
50 all the way down to the turnpike is >> it's terrible. It's terrible.
» Um as far as the entrance right there on Star at the tractor I was asking at
least that too. We got to look into that and see who's whose that is. But thanks.
Anyone else? Wow, that was two questions. No one else. Okay. All right.
So, we'll close the public hearing and bring it back to Elise.
All right. I'll try to be quick. Um, since the last town commission meeting,
East Vic Avenue was paved and asphalt millings were placed on East and West
Hen, East Golie, East Hull Avenue, North Brock, North Cross, Winter Street, and
South Arrington. So the only places that we still have remaining are places that
we need to do additional work such as drainage improvements or things like
that. Um or we're wait going to wait for the septic to sewer to go in and then
we'll work on those areas. Everything else should be done. Um the artist
opening on Thursday, August 13th for a new exhibit at the Arts and Heritage
Center was well attended. I'd like to thank Mayor Taylor, Vice Mayor
Satderfield, and Commissioner Keller for attending. The exhibit will be in place
through October 30th and is definitely worth visiting. Um, on August 19th,
which was last week, Mayor Taylor and I attended the ribbon cutting for the Baby
Place, Advent Health Winter Garden. So, the Baby Place is now our closest labor
and delivery facility. If you know anyone who's delivering, so um, that's
pretty exciting for for our young >> shaking her head. know in this room.
[laughter] >> We will have a farmers market this
Thursday from 9 to 1. Um on September 1st, I'll be part of a district 1
property tax town hall panel. So, if you still want to get educated on amendment
three, there will be a town hall at West Orange High School cafeteria at 6:00
p.m. Um, and we'll just be providing the tax collector will be there, state
representative Spencer, Commissioner Nicole Wilson, the Winter Garden Town
Manager, the Windmir town manager, and myself.
Um, town offices will be closed on Monday, September 7th for Labor Day. And
then just a reminder, I know Kathy's going to cover it as well. Um, our next
commission meeting will be on Wednesday, September 9th. And that's because it's
our tenant budget hearing that starts at a regular town commission will start at
7. And then we'll have a block party on Friday, September 18th from 5:30 to 8 in
front of the Arts and Heritage Center. And Nature Fest is Saturday, September
26 from 9:00 to 1 at P. >> Thank you, Kathy.
I have no report. Oh >> jeez. I thought you were going to echo
what she just said. She was thinking you would. Uh it is a lot lot going on. It's
getting cooler out. So yeah, it's almost sweater weather. Chief,
» my report mirrors Cathy's report. >> Great.
Abby,
» no. Nothing. >> Budget's looking good. Crunching the
numbers. >> Yep. It's prepped and ready to go.
» Anything from our um building department?
» Uh no, sir. No report. Just if you've been out by Briley Farms, you can see
all the work going on out there is keeping us hopping. No report.
» You'll have a lot of work this sounds like coming up here soon. Amy, Ashley,
» I do have a report and hopefully I can get through this. I want to acknowledge
the fact that we are as we started another school year. That means we have
another round of teachers that have returned with us. As such, we do have
quite an extensive list of celebrating anniversaries this year and I would like
the opportunity to recognize them. So with 20 years of service this year we
are recognizing Melissa Keading, Margaret Young, Joanne Broutley, Karen
Kefir, and Amanda Coleman Commeister. At 14 years of service, we are
celebrating at the school Andrea Wano, but also we are celebrating Mike Parker
as our capital projects coordinator with his 14 years as well. at 13 years with
the school, Michelle Murphy. 10 years each at the school, Serena Bell Miller
and Natalie Wesling. We have eight years at the school, Lara
Toning. Seven years at the school, Cheryl
Sherber, and with PD Corporal Fischer. Make sure you check him out on Facebook.
Quite funny. uh six-year anniversaries here all at
the school would include Nicole Perr, Ariana and Del Lima, Wendy Perkins,
Tiffany Williams, and Leah Barry. I have five years at the school, Kathleen Tate,
Amanda Hilton, Brenda Campbell, and Nicole oh um Lori Harms. And then at PD
celebrating her five years is officer Nicole Hall.
We also have four years here at the school. Ashley Barry, Karen House,
Danielle Spano, and Leslie Muartry, and Terresa Baron. Two years celebrating
Sharon Russo and Gerardo Compunano, Amy Melon, and Elaine Taylor East. And
finally staying here for their one-year anniversary at the school, we have Noel
Don and Nathan Balish. And then P, our education coordinator, Stephanie
Schmidt. So we sincerely appreciate all of our employees, especially those that
are returning teachers and educators here at the school. Hopefully next year
it's going to be an even longer list for us. And quickly I just want to let you
know we have I have completed all of the initial interviews for the public works
director. We are moving on to the second phase of those interviews and then we
taking place this week and next week as well. So we shall keep you posted on
that as we move along. >> Thanks Ashley Taylor. Anything other
than what we discussed? >> Sure. Other than that, I uh we do have a
couple of additional projects hopefully nearing the finish line here. We have
the fourth street villages first phase, the commercial portion and for hopefully
its final round of review before of its final engineering plans. And we also
hope to soon begin review on 302 East Oakland, the conversion of the residence
to the doctor's office that's going to be coming in for final engineering plan
hopefully here shortly. and nothing other than I did get to experience the
um the new paved roads and it was a very pleasant drive. So that's all I got.
» Thanks. Did good job tonight, too, Taylor. Thank you. Uh Commissioner
Keller, >> I have nothing.
» I'm good. >> All right, we said enough. All right,
let's go. >> All hearts, minds are satisfied. We are
adjourned at 8:32.
Did I get it right?