From Staff Reports
Is Cips Tavern coming to Apopka?
The Apopka City Council is set to review Ordinance No. 3135 at its October 15 meeting, a small-scale Future Land Use Amendment for the property at 5118 Plymouth-Sorrento Road, currently vacant and formerly home to a bar. The ordinance proposes annexing the parcel into the city and changing its designation from County Rural to City Mixed-Use, a move that would allow a sports tavern to operate on the site.
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The property lies within the Village Center character zone of the Kelly Park Interchange Form-Based Code, an area designed to encourage a compact, pedestrian-friendly urban environment. The zone supports a mixture of residential, commercial, and entertainment uses, emphasizing active street frontages and urban design that promotes walkability. The applicant, David Cipollone of LPG Urban & Regional Planners, submitted a concept plan for the site that includes façade upgrades, a trail segment, and other site improvements intended to meet the area’s urban form standards.
From the Apopka City Council Agenda packet.
The parcel is bordered on three sides by the Wingspan multifamily and commercial project, positioning the proposed tavern as a complementary addition to the surrounding developments. Orange County has requested a 35-foot dedication of right-of-way along Plymouth-Sorrento Road, which is part of long-range transportation planning, and has also required a notice regarding the property’s proximity to Sand Hill Preserve.
City staff have reviewed the proposal and determined that it complies with the Comprehensive Plan, meets the requirements of the Land Development Code, and is compatible with the surrounding properties. Officials say the amendment would contribute additional commercial acreage in a rapidly growing part of Apopka, helping the city meet projected growth and serve the surrounding community’s needs.
If the council approves the first reading on October 15, a second reading and potential adoption would likely take place during the November 5 meeting. Residents may attend in person at City Hall or view the session via the city’s livestream, offering the public a chance to follow discussions on this potentially transformative addition to the Plymouth-Sorrento corridor.
