By Justin Baltes, Interning Correspondent for The Apopka Voice
In Summary:
Ridgebrooke’s proposed secondary access prompted questions about emergency vehicle access, road construction standards, and county approvals during Apopka’s Nov. 4 DRC meeting. Committee representatives indicated the subdivision’s site plan amendment could proceed while the access issue was addressed separately, provided the applicant documented its commitment to the revision. The charter school plat received a denial recommendation pending additional information and revisions, while the Crossroads at Kelly Park park tract received an approval recommendation.
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While Wednesday's Development Review Committee meeting featured several routine development updates, the Ridgebrooke subdivision discussion stood out as the meeting's biggest concern. Questions about emergency access, road construction, and potential delays to home occupancy highlighted the challenges developers can face when working through the city's approval process.
Related: Apopka seeks Planning Commission applicants.
During its Nov. 4 meeting, the committee reviewed three development items: an amendment to the Ridgebrooke subdivision construction site plan, the Apopka K-8 Charter School plat, and the Crossroads at Kelly Park park tract.
The Ridgebrooke discussion focused on finding a solution for a secondary access road after Public Services ruled out a previously considered option along Sorrento Avenue.
The proposed alternative would route access through a nearby dog park area and connect to the subdivision's internal roadway near the existing Bailey Hill Road access point.
However, the proposal raised questions about how the road would be constructed and what approvals Orange County would need because the connection would extend to Plymouth Sorrento Road, which falls within the county's right-of-way.
Jeff Summit, representing Summit Engineering, questioned what improvements would be required to make the secondary access acceptable.
"What is the minimum you're going to accept as a secondary access as far as stabilization or paved?" Summit asked.
Jeremy Olderfield, representing Fire, emphasized the need for a paved surface rather than an unpaved alternative.
"I'm looking for a paved surface," Olderfield said. "I'm not going to take a grass surface with whatever material below and telling me that it stabilizes."
The discussion also turned to the potential width of the access road. Olderfield said 16 to 18 feet was a preliminary estimate, but he would need to review the requirements before providing a specific measurement.
Beyond construction requirements, Summit expressed concerns about delaying approval of the revised construction site plan or making the secondary access a condition of occupancy for homes in the subdivision.
Summit said the development team did not want the access issue to hold up the current site plan revision but remained committed to working with city officials to find a solution.
Committee representatives indicated the site plan amendment could move forward while the access issue was addressed separately, provided the applicant documented its commitment to completing the revision.
Charter school plat receives denial recommendation
The committee also reviewed the first submittal of the Apopka K-8 Charter School plat, located at 1829 and 1839 Pluma Sorrento Road.
Planning staff recommended denial following comments from Planning and Public Works requesting revisions to the application.
During the meeting, Natalia Golden, representing Ryan Companies, asked staff to clarify a comment regarding information required under the city's Land Development Code.
Planning staff explained that the application needed additional responses confirming whether the project met specific code requirements.
Golden said the information could be provided through email, allowing staff to upload the additional documentation into the city's OpenGov system.
Public Works indicated that the applicant had already reached out about addressing its comments. Fire and Building reported no additional concerns.
Crossroads at Kelly Park moves forward
The final development item involved the Crossroads at Kelly Park Tract P1-A1, a park tract associated with the larger Crossroads development.
Planning staff member Gene Sanchez reported receiving no additional comments following the second submittal and recommended approval.
Public Works, Fire, and Building also reported no outstanding comments.
Key Points:
- Ridgebrooke’s secondary access proposal would pass through a nearby dog park area after staff ruled out an earlier Sorrento Avenue option.
- Fire representatives called for a paved access road, with its required width still to be determined.
- The development team raised concerns about potential delays to site plan approval and home occupancy.
- Planning staff recommended denial of the Apopka K-8 Charter School plat pending revisions and additional documentation.
- The Crossroads at Kelly Park park tract received an approval recommendation with no outstanding departmental comments.
