Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has submitted rewritten ballot language for Amendment 3 after a Leon County judge rejected the original title as resembling a political slogan. The revised language details proposed increases to the homestead exemption, a lower assessment-growth cap for non-homestead property and new restrictions on local property tax revenue. more

The Apopka City Commission will consider meeting procedures, public-participation rules, and several land-use proposals on Wednesday, August 19. The agenda includes a proposed child care facility on Chandler Road, enclosed car storage on East Keene Road, and a requested delay of the hearing on the Floridian Town Center hotel. more

Apopka’s Development Review Committee will meet Wednesday to review four community-event applications and three development-related proposals. The agenda spans fall festivals and a 2027 run, along with an industrial special exception, an access-road extension and revisions to the Ridgebrooke subdivision plan. more

The Apopka Planning Commission meets Tuesday, August 11, to consider two Kelly Park-area land-use changes intended to support future commercial development. Commissioners will also decide a special-exception request for a downtown accessory dwelling unit. more

The Apopka City Commission unanimously approved the Ridge Phase III major development plan one month after delaying the project to seek more information about transportation and infrastructure. Commissioners said their concerns were focused largely on the city’s planning and communication rather than the developer’s compliance with existing requirements. more

A Florida circuit court judge has ordered Attorney General James Uthmeier to rewrite significant portions of Amendment 3’s ballot title and summary. Judge David Frank ruled that the property-tax measure’s title improperly promotes the amendment and that its summary makes misleading claims about taxpayer benefits and funding for public services. more

The Florida Sheriffs Association is raising concerns about Amendment 3, warning that the proposed property tax reduction could lead to longer law enforcement response times and fewer resources for local services. Legislative analysts estimate the measure could eventually reduce local property tax revenue by as much as $12 billion annually. more

The Apopka Development Review Committee will meet on August 5 to consider residential projects totaling 684 lots. The agenda also includes a 120-foot stealth cell tower, a rezoning request, and two special events. more

Amendment 3 would substantially expand Florida’s homestead exemption and limit annual assessment increases on non-homestead properties. While homeowners could pay less, the projected $11.8 billion annual revenue loss could lead to higher taxes and fees elsewhere or cuts to local services. more

  Affordable apartments often cost more to build than market-rate units because developers must navigate complex financing and regulatory requirements. Colorado is reversing that pattern through inexpensive public land, streamlined reviews, parking reform and alternative construction methods. Reducing the administrative and regulatory costs associated with building affordable housing can increase the housing supply in Colorado. Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via … more

The Apopka Development Review Committee will consider plans for retail, restaurant, and fueling uses along West Kelly Park Road during its July 29 meeting. The agenda also includes a 16-unit multifamily project and new tennis and pickleball courts at the Northwest Recreation Complex. more

As the United States marks 250 years since its founding, the dream of owning a home remains one of the country's defining aspirations. This historical look explores the laws, programs, and milestones that transformed homeownership from a privilege for a few into an attainable goal for millions of Americans. more

Florida recorded more foreclosure filings than any other state in June, according to new data from ATTOM. The report shows foreclosure activity continued to rise year over year, with Charlotte, Polk, Okeechobee and Osceola counties reporting the highest filing rates in the state. more

Apopka’s Development Review Committee will review eight applications Wednesday, including three residential projects representing 851 proposed lots. The agenda also includes two warehouse proposals, an outdoor-storage request and two future land-use amendments. more

The Apopka Development Review Committee will review another busy agenda on Wednesday, featuring residential subdivisions, commercial construction, and the first technical review of the Kelly Park South master plan amendment. The meeting also includes site plans for an AutoZone, a commercial outparcel, and three community events. more

After surviving breast cancer and overcoming years of financial and personal challenges, Apopka resident LaTonya Riley achieved her dream of homeownership through Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka. Her story highlights how Orange County's investment in affordable housing is helping families build long-term stability. more

The Apopka City Commission will meet on Wednesday to consider several development proposals, including a 363-unit apartment community that is expected to draw the most attention. Commissioners will also review a proposed child care facility, an annexation request, and several routine consent agenda items. more

Orange County has launched a new training program aimed at helping nonprofit and faith-based organizations develop affordable housing projects. The initiative supports the County’s goal of producing or preserving 11,000 affordable housing units by 2030. more

Golden Gem Road and one of Apopka’s next major residential developments are expected to take center stage Wednesday night as the City Commission continues navigating growth, infrastructure, and development challenges inherited from previous administrations. more

Paulucci Acres will take center stage at the Apopka Development Review Committee meeting on April 22. The agenda also includes additional residential, school, and commercial projects as growth continues across the city. more

Orange County commissioners approved a new program that allows religious institutions to build affordable housing on their property through a streamlined approval process. The initiative is part of the county’s broader effort to address the region’s housing shortage. more

The national housing debate is often framed as a simple question of supply versus demand. But a third perspective argues the crisis is rooted in a broader financial system that shapes how housing is built, financed, and valued. more

Apopka recorded the largest percentage increase in municipal property tax collections among Florida’s 50 biggest cities over the past decade, according to a new report from Florida TaxWatch. The 300-plus percent jump reflects explosive development and rising property values — not individual homeowners seeing their bills triple — but it is intensifying debate about affordability and growth management. more

The City of Apopka Planning Commission will review major land use changes for the long-anticipated Wyld Oaks project, a proposed 300-plus-acre mixed-use “town center” near the 429 interchange. The hearings could establish the rules for thousands of homes, taller buildings and walkable commercial space — or spark fresh debate over traffic, flooding and whether infrastructure is keeping pace with growth. more

For decades, housing debates have focused on building more homes to lower prices, but a growing body of research and political reality suggests the system itself resists falling values. Charles Marohn of Strong Towns argues that federal policy, financial markets and local politics are structured to protect homeowners and asset prices — making true affordability harder to achieve than simple supply math implies. more