From Staff Reports
In Summary:
The commission will meet at 5 pm at City Hall to discuss a reported funding deficiency and remaining right-of-way and easement needs for the Kelly Park Road widening project. City staff is preparing a third amendment that could clarify eligible properties, funding sources, developer-payment deadlines, and the use of interest earned by the dedicated roadway account. The workshop includes public comment but no scheduled vote or final action.
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The Apopka City Commission will hold a discussion workshop Wednesday, August 19, focused on the agreement intended to finance and coordinate road improvements in the rapidly developing Kelly Park Interchange area.
Related: Commission takes on public-comment rules, board appointments and land-use changes
The workshop will begin at 5 pm in the City Hall Commission Chambers. The meeting will also be livestreamed on the City of Apopka’s YouTube channel.
Commissioners are scheduled to spend 30 minutes discussing the Kelly Park Road Pioneering Agreement, which involves the city and three private parties: Kelly Park VB Development LLC, Golden Gem Investments LLC and Galvin-Harris Land Services LLC.
Approved in 2023 and amended twice, the agreement establishes which road projects are required, how developers and the city share construction responsibilities, how right-of-way is obtained, and how developers can receive transportation impact-fee credits for eligible roadwork.
The discussion is expected to center on unresolved funding and property-acquisition issues affecting the widening of Kelly Park Road.
According to the agenda packet, the city notified the developers May 8 of a funding deficiency for the project. City officials and the developers are working to determine how the shortfall can be addressed. They are also continuing efforts to obtain the final right of way and construction-slope easements needed for the widening.
The packet estimates that transportation impact fees associated with development in the area have increased from more than $24 million before the agreement to more than $48 million under current estimates. The participating developers’ obligation under the pioneering agreement is capped at $20 million — an initial $15 million plus up to $5 million in additional funding.
City staff members are working on a proposed third amendment that would clarify which properties are eligible to participate, whether interest earned by the Kelly Park Interchange roadway account can be used for the project, how project costs will be funded, and when the full developer contribution must be provided. The amendment could also add parcels to help reach the $20 million cap.
The agreement allows developers to earn credits against transportation impact fees for eligible road improvements. Developers may also seek reimbursement from the dedicated roadway account after completing work, although payments depend on available funds and the priority of previously approved requests.
The commission’s agenda lists several subjects for possible future workshops, including plans for a resource center for unhoused residents, transportation improvements, citizen advisory boards, utility infrastructure, the city’s comprehensive plan, software for recording commission votes and a brownfields presentation.
A 30-minute public-comment period is scheduled after the commission’s Kelly Park Road discussion. The agenda does not list a formal vote or final action on the pioneering agreement during the workshop.
Key Points
- The workshop begins at 5 pm. Wednesday, August 19, in the City Hall Commission Chambers and will be livestreamed on the city’s YouTube channel.
- The 2023 agreement divides road construction, property acquisition, and funding responsibilities between Apopka and three private developers.
- The city notified developers May 8 of a project funding deficiency, while final right-of-way and construction-slope easements remain unresolved.
- Estimated transportation impact fees have risen from more than $24 million to more than $48 million, but participating developers’ contributions are capped at $20 million.
- Staff is drafting a third amendment, and the commission has not scheduled a formal vote or final action at the workshop.
