Community Meeting & PZC Meeting – Special Hearts Farm

Zoning and Future Land Use Change Request – Special Hearts Farm

Background:

This is the same request that was discussed at the May 30 Community Meeting and at the August 15 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting. At the P&ZC meeting the applicant asked to postpone their application in order to discuss options with the County Planning and Zoning Departments that would allow them to complete their project under a Special Exception instead of a Zoning and Future Land Use change. The advantage of the Special Exception is that it is project specific and doesn’t stay with the parcel like a Zoning or Future Land Use change would; therefore, it was preferred for protecting the Rural Settlement from future development. While we do not object to the agricultural portions of this project in order to provide a meaningful and productive day to the Special Heart students, we do object to the uses that require the FLUM & Zoning changes.

Unfortunately, the Planning and Zoning Department leadership would not consider this alternate path forward. Now the applicant is resubmitting their request for a Future Land Use change from RS 1/5 to Institutional, and a Zoning change from A-1 to PD, as described in the attached notice.

After the Community Meeting on Sept 18, this application will proceed to the Planning & Zoning Commission Public Hearing on Sept 19. This is a very popular project, and it is likely that the request will be approved by the P&ZC and then proceed to the Board of County Commissioners meeting within the next couple of months.

How to comment:

As usual, comments can be emailed to the Planning & Zoning Commission and to the Board of County Commissioners. Please reference case numbers SS-24-03-006 and LUP-23-12-360 in your message and include your name and address. For reference, below are our talking points if you choose to email the County or speak at the meetings:

1. We do not object to the agricultural portions of their project, raising animals, growing gardens, and crops, hands-on learning center activities, which will enable the Applicant to provide a meaningful and productive day for their students.

2. This Future Land Use and Zoning change to INSTITUTIONAL and PLANNED DEVELOPMENT that the Applicant is seeking, is not compatible or consistent with the development patterns of the existing Lake Avalon Rural Settlement.

3. Approval of 8,000 square feet of Residential Care Facilities to accommodate 30 unrelated adults is inappropriate in the Lake Avalon Rural Settlement.

4. There are other potential sites in Orange County, including the 14+-acres they already own in Mt. Dora, that would be very suitable for this type of development.

5. We do not feel this change is in our best interest as once the Land Use/Zoning is changed, it’s permanent and will forever negatively change our Rural Settlement as it’s done to other Rural Settlements, notably Gotha Rural Settlement.

6. This parcel does not have access to County Water or County Sewer, it would require septic tanks and wells to accommodate 50 students, 20 staff and 30 full-time residents.

7. The County’s adopted Rural Settlement policies were created to protect the communities’ unique rural character, heritage, historic preservation, and resources, the FLU and Zoning change components of this projects request do not enhance these.

Planning & Zoning Commissioners email addresses:

Jason.Sorensen@ocfl.net; dboers@ab.ocfl.net; gwiggins@ab.ocfl.net; gwiggins7777@gmail.com; ocpzcfernandez@gmail.com; gspears@ab.ocfl.net; JGSpears.ocpzc@gmail.com; marrington@ab.ocfl.net; arrtyme@icloud.com; cevans@ab.ocfl.net; c.evans.public@gmail.com; ecardenas@ab.ocfl.net; evelyn.cardenas.pzc@gmail.com; npena@ab.ocfl.net; nelsonpena2@yahoo.com; egray@ab.ocfl.net; egray@christianservicecenter.org

Board of County Commissioners email addresses:

Mayor@OCFL.net; District1@OCFL.net; District2@OCFL.net; District3@OCFL.net; District4@OCFL.net; District5@OCFL.net; District6@OCFL.net