By Rod Olsen
Editor's Note: Rod Olsen is a former HOA President of Rock Springs Ridge and an Apopka resident who often contributes his opinions at the Apopka City Council meetings during the public comments section and in frequent op/eds to The Apopka Voice. He was recently appointed to the newly formed Orange County Transportation Mobility Advisory Commission for District 2.
Olsen sent this open letter to the Apopka City Council members, and the City Administrator. It was published in The Apopka Voice with his permission.
Hello Mayor, Commissioners and City Administrator,
Given the current development already approved and given the operational, infrastructure and growth challenges that Apopka faces we should IMMEDIATELY implement a development moratorium. To secure a moratorium, it is my understanding that we must establish quantifiable rational and time limits. The following items should support a moratorium at least through September 30, 2025.
IMMEDIATELY engage Engineer/Consultant/Environmentalist(s) to evaluate, assess and make recommendations related to the current condition, preventative maintenance, and ability to meet the needs of future projected growth for the City of Apopka:
- potable water systems.
- septic and sewer treatment systems.
- address areas of flooding.
- stormwater drainage.
- retention ponds – to avert another Golden Gem Pond (wrong location, failure to monitor and failure to address timely).
- impact of the City of Apopka’s growth to the aquifer, St. Johns Water District and Wekiva River Basin.
- correct all non-working water meters.
- blue algae on Lake Apopka.
- transportation needs – walk, skate, bike, vehicle, bus, train, and other transit.
- Staffing and/or contracted service needs – Emergency Responders, general and administrative.
- park and recreational facilities.
- restaurants, shops, gas stations, etc.
As the fastest growing county in Florida, we must work in a TRUE JOINT EFFORT with Orange County Public Schools and Orange County to appeal to the State of Florida to address the City of Apopka’s and Orange County’s school overcrowding.
Orange County Public Schools is the fourth largest school district in Florida and yet Orange County Public School Children “enjoy” the most portable classrooms. You must add the three largest school districts' number of portable classrooms to barely outnumber Orange County’s.
Portable classrooms are NOT AS SAFE and cost more to heat, cool and maintain. Apopka Children continue to suffer with school overcrowding today. The fact that Apopka Children attending Wolf Lake Middle and Elementary Schools endured 16 years of overcrowding from 2006-2022, until the Kelly Park K-8 opened in 2022 is disgraceful.
As we work through this moratorium, we should amend our Charter to ensure SMART FUTURE GROWTH. We MUST get in front of our growth. The burden of services needed to support a developer’s project should fall to the developer. NOW is the time to act.
