Wyld Oaks proposal headlines Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting

In Summary:

Planning commissioners are set to consider a Land Development Code amendment and Comprehensive Plan changes that would create the Wyld Oaks Town Center Overlay District, guiding how roughly 300 acres at Kelly Park Road and State Road 429 can develop. The proposal permits higher residential density, mid- to high-rise buildings, open-space incentives, and a mix of housing, retail, and office uses. Supporters say the project could create a true gateway district for Apopka, while critics are likely to question traffic impacts, stormwater capacity, and whether services can keep up with rapid growth.

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Apopka’s next chapter of growth along the Kelly Park interchange comes back into focus Tuesday night, when the City of Apopka Planning Commission takes up two major public hearings tied to the long-anticipated Wyld Oaks project.

Related: City Council approves funding agreement for Kelly Park Interchange. 

At stake is not just another subdivision, but the framework for what could become one of the city’s largest mixed-use districts — a 300-plus-acre “town center” planned for the southwest corner of Kelly Park Road and State Road 429.

The agenda includes both a Land Development Code amendment to create the Wyld Oaks Town Center Overlay District and a Comprehensive Plan text amendment to formally shape the property's development.

Together, those changes would set the rules for density, building heights, open space, and overall intensity before any specific site plans move forward.

What’s being proposed

According to city documents, the project covers approximately 304 acres and would allow:

• Up to 27.5 dwelling units per acre

• Roughly 4,675 residential units across 170 acres

• A bonus of up to 30 units per acre if at least 30% open space is provided

• Buildings up to 10 stories tall

• A mix of residential, commercial, and walkable “town center” uses

• KPI-MU zoning with a Wyld Oaks Town Center Overlay

Unlike a traditional subdivision, the proposal leans toward an urban layout — blocks, streets, height allowances, and open space requirements — designed to cluster housing, shops, and services around the interchange.

In effect, planners are being asked to approve the playbook first, then let future phases fill in the details.

Why it matters

Wyld Oaks has been on the city’s radar for years because of its location at the 429/Kelly Park gateway — one of Apopka’s fastest-growing corridors and a pressure point for both traffic and new rooftops.

Supporters argue the overlay could:

• Attract retail and restaurants closer to home

• Create walkable neighborhoods instead of sprawl

• Add a tax base near the interchange

Skeptics are likely to raise familiar concerns:

• Traffic congestion

• School and infrastructure capacity

• Stormwater impacts

• Whether growth is outpacing roads and utilities

Tuesday’s hearings are one of the first formal chances for residents to weigh in before the project advances to the City Council.

What happens next

The Planning Commission will hold public hearings and make recommendations. Final approval would still require votes from the City Council.

The meeting begins at 5:30 pm at City Hall and will also be livestreamed. To watch the meeting online, go here.

For residents tracking where Apopka grows next, Wyld Oaks isn’t just another agenda item — it’s a preview of how dense, how tall, and how urban the city is willing to become along its newest gateway.

Key Points:

• About 300 acres planned for a mixed-use “town center” near the 429/Kelly Park interchange
• The proposal includes thousands of residential units and commercial/retail space
• An overlay district would allow higher density and buildings up to roughly 10 stories
• Open space bonuses offered for added green space
• Planning Commission makes a recommendation before the final City Council vote