By Justin Baltes, Interning Correspondent for The Apopka Voice
In Summary:
The Apopka Development Review Committee reviewed four applications Oct. 28 and recommended denial for three because of outstanding staff comments and unresolved issues. The proposals include an 11-lot subdivision on East Lisa Lane, the Crescent Ridge Phase Two plat, and a 16-unit multifamily development on Piedmont Wekiva Road. The committee recommended approving a future land use amendment for 2525 Clark Connelly Road, where the applicant said the existing industrial business would continue operating without changing its current use.
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Before three proposed Apopka developments can move closer to construction, their applicants have more work to do on paper. Unresolved staff comments and questions about the plans led the city’s Development Review Committee (DRC) to recommend denial of three applications at its October 28 meeting, while a land use amendment for recently annexed industrial property received staff support.
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The committee reviewed a future land use amendment for 2525 Clark Connelly Road, the 860 East Lisa Lane subdivision, the Crescent Ridge Phase Two plat and the Villas at Wekiva construction site plan.
Staff recommended approving the Clark Connelly Road amendment after the property was recently annexed into Apopka. The applicant, June Son, confirmed the existing industrial business would continue operating without changes to its current use.
For the other three proposals, the review identified issues that still need attention. Those ranged from a neighbor’s concerns about access and easements to outstanding planning and engineering comments.
The proposed 11-lot subdivision at 860 East Lisa Lane drew public concerns from Ricardo Cahigas, owner of neighboring property at 850 East Oak Street. Cahigas said the proposed plan appeared to omit a 30-foot-by-30-foot easement referenced in his deed. He also raised concerns about an existing driveway crossing the property, which he said could qualify as an implied or prescriptive easement.
The committee suggested connecting Cahigas with the applicant to discuss the concerns and recommended that he meet with city urban planner Amer Hamza about questions concerning the deed.
The committee recommended denying the Crescent Ridge Phase Two plat because of outstanding public works engineering comments from Dale Smith. The Villas at Wekiva construction site plan, proposing 16 multifamily units at 734 Piedmont Wekiva Road, also faced major planning comments from Bobby Howell and public works comments from Smith.
The Villas at Wekiva applicant agreed to meet with city staff outside of DRC to clarify the outstanding issues before submitting revised plans. That discussion will give the applicant an opportunity to determine what revisions staff expects.
For now, the next steps for the three proposals will take place across meeting tables and on revised drawings. Questions about easements, engineering requirements, and site planning remain between the proposed projects and the versions their applicants hope to move forward with.
Key Points
- Three of the four applications reviewed received denial recommendations because they need additional revisions.
- The committee supported a future land use amendment for recently annexed property at 2525 Clark Connelly Road.
- A neighboring property owner raised concerns about the proposed 11-lot subdivision at 860 East Lisa Lane, including easement and driveway access.
- The Crescent Ridge Phase Two plat has outstanding public works engineering comments.
- The applicant for the 16-unit Villas at Wekiva agreed to meet with city staff to clarify planning and public works comments before submitting revised plans.
