By Justin Baltes, Interning Correspondent for The Apopka Voice
In Summary:
City staff requested a more detailed conceptual commercial layout for proposed additions to Crossroads at Kelly Park and recommended denying the master plan until outstanding comments are addressed. A related future land-use amendment is largely ready to advance, pending an updated school capacity report, while developers emphasized the applications’ connection to resolving a roughly $1.6 million roadway funding deficiency. The DRC also considered concerts, community celebrations and holiday events expected to draw thousands of attendees.
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The Apopka Development Review Committee raised concerns Wednesday over plans for the Crossroads at Kelly Park development, including a proposed commercial area, traffic impacts, and the project's connection to a major roadway funding agreement.
Related: Nesta projects millions in Apopka revenue losses if Amendment 3 passes.
The discussion centered on a future land-use amendment and master plan amendment for properties being incorporated into the existing Crossroads at Kelly Park development.
The proposed future land-use amendment would change the property designation from rural settlement to mixed use. The master plan calls for one parcel to include a village center with multifamily housing and about 30,000 square feet of non-residential space, while another parcel would include single-family housing and neighborhood uses.
City staff raised concerns that the master plan did not provide enough detail about the proposed commercial area. The plan currently identifies the area generally as commercial, but staff requested a more detailed conceptual layout showing how the future development could comply with the city's code.
The developer's representatives said they have not identified specific commercial tenants because the roadway serving the area has not yet been widened to four lanes. They argued that the layout could change depending on which businesses eventually locate there.
City staff maintained that a conceptual layout could still be provided based on the city's form-based code.
The disagreement became more significant because the development applications are tied to a proposed third amendment to a roadway funding agreement involving the Crossroads development.
According to representatives involved in the project, a funding deficiency exists because another co-developer previously dropped out of the roadway agreement. The proposed properties would help address a roughly $1.6 million funding deficiency associated with the roadway project.
The roadway agreement is also connected to a settlement involving Kelly Park Self-Storage. As part of the proposed arrangement, the developers offered to provide 50,000 cubic yards of dirt that could be used in connection with a needed right-of-way segment for the roadway project.
Developers emphasized that the agreements, zoning applications and roadway funding must move forward together.
“There is no Third Amendment, there’s no settlement agreement,” one project representative said while arguing that the zoning needs to advance.
The representative also said he had personally contributed $6.75 million to the roadway escrow and that the developers had built $14 million in city roads. He warned that the developers were close to pursuing litigation with the city over the roadway agreement.
Despite the concerns, city staff indicated that the future land-use amendment was largely ready to move forward, provided the applicant submits an updated Orange County Public Schools capacity report.
The future land-use amendment must go before the Planning Commission and then the City Council for two readings. Staff said the earliest likely Planning Commission consideration would be in November, followed by City Council consideration in December.
However, the master plan received a different recommendation. Because outstanding comments remained regarding the commercial layout, planning staff recommended denial of the master plan at this time until those comments are satisfied.
Staff and the developer agreed to continue working on a conceptual commercial layout outside of the meeting.
New and returning events coming to Apopka
Development projects were not the only items reviewed Wednesday. The DRC also considered several special events scheduled to bring concerts, celebrations and holiday activities to Apopka over the coming months.
The Apopka Christmas Parade is scheduled to return Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to noon. The parade is expected to draw approximately 5,000 people and will travel along Park Avenue. Organizers plan to use road closures similar to previous years, with the permit still requiring additional City Council approval.
Another large event, K92.3's Jingle Jam, is scheduled for Dec. 6 from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Apopka Amphitheater. The ticketed concert and festival is expected to attract approximately 5,000 people and will include food trucks, vendors and alcohol. Organizers plan to use all three amphitheater entrances for ticketing and surrounding areas for parking.
The city also reviewed the Jingle Bell Book Bash, a returning Christmas give-back event hosted by Reimagined Communities at Kit Land Nelson Park on Dec. 10.
The VFW plans to host two events at the Apopka Community Center. A Bee Gees tribute dinner and show is scheduled for Oct. 17 from 5 to 9 p.m. The public fundraiser will include dinner, music and dancing and is expected to attract approximately 290 people.
The VFW will also host its annual United States Marine Corps birthday celebration Nov. 10 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the community center, with approximately 120 people expected to attend.
Next year, the Sunset Country Festival is planned for April 3, 2027, at the Apopka Amphitheater. The family-friendly outdoor country festival is expected to bring between 1,000 and 2,000 attendees and feature food trucks, merchandise vendors and other activities.
For now, the Crossroads at Kelly Park project will continue through the city's review process as developers work with staff to address the remaining concerns. Meanwhile, the lineup of upcoming events will bring thousands of residents and visitors to Apopka over the coming months, adding to a busy end to 2026 and the start of 2027 for the city.
Key Points:
- Proposed additions to Crossroads at Kelly Park would include multifamily housing, single-family housing, and approximately 30,000 square feet of non-residential space.
- Planning staff recommended denial of the master plan at this time because questions about the conceptual commercial layout remain unresolved.
- Developers said the applications are tied to a roadway agreement intended to address a roughly $1.6 million funding deficiency.
- The future land-use amendment could reach the Planning Commission in November and the City Council in December, pending an updated school capacity report.
- Events reviewed included the Christmas Parade, Jingle Jam, Jingle Bell Book Bash, two VFW events, and the Sunset Country Festival.
