By Justin Baltes, Interning Correspondent for The Apopka Voice
In Summary:
The committee approved the Trader Mae's Christmas Festival to host indoor and outdoor vendors Nov. 7–8 at 2001 N. Rock Springs Road, from 9 am to 5 pm each day. Outstanding Planning and Zoning comments prompted staff to recommend denial of revised construction plans for a commercial redevelopment at 335 S. Hawthorne Ave. and renovations at Apopka Logistics Park. Staff discussed needed revisions with the applicants, including parking dimensions, boundary lighting, and emergency access at the logistics park.
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Christmas is coming early to Apopka, with holiday decorations, festive gifts, and local vendors taking center stage in November after the Development Review Committee approved plans for the Trader Mae's Christmas Festival during its Wednesday meeting. The two-day holiday market is scheduled for Nov. 7-8 at 2001 N. Rock Springs Road, with indoor and outdoor vendors open from 9 am to 5 pm each day.
The festival will feature vendors selling Christmas decorations, gifts, and other holiday merchandise. Organizers expect approximately 200 attendees throughout the event. Vendors will set up inside the existing building and in outdoor tents on the property.
While the holiday festival received approval, two construction site plans faced additional hurdles during the meeting because of unresolved Planning and Zoning comments. Staff recommended denial of both applications pending revisions.
South Hawthorne Avenue redevelopment needs revisions
The committee reviewed application CSP-26-37, a revised construction site plan for a commercial redevelopment project at 335 S. Hawthorne Ave. Project manager Amir Hamza explained that the committee had previously approved the plan, but the project returned for review because the applicant proposed changes to the site.
Unresolved comments from Jean Sanchez of Planning and Zoning prompted staff to recommend denial of the revised plan. A Cooper Construction representative identified as Debbie asked whether the recommendation meant the company would need to address the remaining comments and resubmit the plans before returning to the committee.
Staff confirmed that the applicant would need to make the necessary revisions and return for another review. The representative said the company was already working through the comments and would address the outstanding issues.
Apopka Logistics Park plan faces parking and access questions
The committee also reviewed a construction site plan for renovation work at Apopka Logistics Park. According to Hamza, the building is already constructed, and the proposal calls for additional parking, loading bays, and other property alterations.
Unresolved Planning and Zoning comments led staff to recommend denial of the application. Cameron Brisbee, representing Kimley-Horn, asked staff to clarify several requirements involving parking islands, trailer parking spaces, and lighting along the property boundaries.
Staff explained that parking islands must be at least 10 feet wide, with terminal parking islands required at the end of each parking row. The discussion addressed how to show those islands on the site plan, including one near a pedestrian crosswalk.
The applicant also needed to demonstrate that trailer parking spaces met minimum dimensions of 15 feet wide and 45 feet long. Brisbee said the company would update the plans to reflect those requirements.
Lighting was another point of clarification. Staff explained that the 2-foot-candle lighting requirement applied along the property boundaries, not inside the building.
Fire officials also raised questions about emergency access to the loading dock areas. The applicant said the site would not have general fencing around those areas but would include manual gates intended to restrict access between employee parking and the truck port.
Fire representative Jeremy Holderfield said the department would need to ensure emergency personnel could access the property if gates were installed. After discussing the requirements, the applicant agreed to use a Knox padlock on the manual gate to keep the area secure while allowing emergency access.
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Key Points:
- The Development Review Committee approved the Trader Mae's Christmas Festival for Nov. 7–8, from 9 am to 5 pm each day.
- Indoor and outdoor vendors at 2001 N. Rock Springs Road will sell Christmas decorations, gifts, and other holiday merchandise, with approximately 200 attendees expected throughout the event.
- A revised commercial redevelopment plan for 335 S. Hawthorne Ave. must address outstanding Planning and Zoning comments before returning for review.
- Proposed renovations at Apopka Logistics Park prompted questions about parking islands, trailer parking dimensions, and lighting along property boundaries.
- The logistics park applicant agreed to use a Knox padlock on a proposed manual gate to allow emergency access while securing the area.
