[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6341326,"mediaKeyId","2257119-4182a22eb6da5665652582c3f79a35cf","parentId",2257119,"title","Orlando council rezones 1.1 acres near Mercy Drive to Industrial General despite residents’ flooding concerns","audioSeconds",69,"startMs",3283000,"endMs",3352000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2257119-4182a22eb6da5665652582c3f79a35cf&start=3283&end=3352","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2257119-4182a22eb6da5665652582c3f79a35cf/thumbnail_3283000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6341326/Orlando/Orange-County/Florida/Orlando-council-rezones-11-acres-near-Mercy-Drive-to-Industrial-General-despite-residents-flooding-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341326-b0efae4ab167404c20ffacddc8f8a42a/orig.mp4?Expires=1776003577&Signature=AehpRRGCrzN5supS1hQ4fad712R0MHxC1SXSeKiZUk2Rdb7Py7VvlfgH2bR~OhVMP2W2ZyO9dGeJZAlaDAhq0rJ9WfhsO4SLD8XkcH9r58jRqScNrchpxcBUiO5CGYUbgGA2MPrKdV3TXQC7JvNsGcELmRfzhAyG2169jAMSsRM6NHB5AenSNB-uzm5lUC9~Z3P7P8OdWNzbE~nAVEwVO9Jiku8PdxLR7YBwLX2OKQWtCRVXmp1cXNyQwB8ztxSISBTpZBo5eELLg8Q0rdxBZO~uZFBQl18XOf1m3VwPEhOsVDYa4VGZEP6Slrjc2PWoKLhIspju4gHoXhgIKP-N2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Orlando, FL","date","2025-02-11T08:00:04Z","article","The Orlando City Council on Feb. 10 approved Ordinance 2025-5, rezoning roughly 1.1 acres west of Mercy Drive and south of Silver Star Road from a medium-intensity residential district to Industrial General with the Wekiva Overlay.

The ordinance was moved by Commissioner Rose and seconded by Commissioner Sheehan; the motion passed on a voice vote with no recorded opposition in the meeting transcript.

At the public hearing, LaJuana (Luana) Gelser, who earlier spoke on other agenda items, urged the council to reconsider zoning changes that reduce tree canopy and increase impervious surfaces, warning that removing wetlands and trees exacerbates flooding. Gelser referenced recent and long-term drainage concerns in the Mercy Drive area and questioned the need to convert residential land to industrial use.

The ordinance text read at the meeting identifies the parcel as approximately 1.1 acres and describes the change from medium-intensity residential within the Wekiva Overlay District to Industrial General within that same overlay. The ordinance provides for an amendment to the city's official zoning map and indicates standard severability and scrivener's-error corrections.

Council members did not debate the environmental concerns at length during the hearing; the public speaker’s remarks asked the council to weigh sustainability and long-term flood risk when approving rezoning and to consider alternative locations.

Because the ordinance changes zoning classifications, future development proposals on the parcel will proceed under Industrial General standards and must comply with Wekiva Overlay regulations and any applicable environmental review processes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Orlando - Council Meeting February 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved Ordinance 2025-5 to rezone about 1.1 acres near Mercy Drive from medium-intensity residential to Industrial General. A public commenter raised concerns about wetlands, flood risk and tree loss.","taxTitle","Orlando, Orange County, Florida","taxId",2968,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6341331,"CRA awards up to $1.5 million for downtown LED lighting upgrades",108,2079000,2187000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2257119-4182a22eb6da5665652582c3f79a35cf&start=2079&end=2187","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2257119-4182a22eb6da5665652582c3f79a35cf/thumbnail_2079000.jpg","/articles/6341331/Orlando/Orange-County/Florida/CRA-awards-up-to-15-million-for-downtown-LED-lighting-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341331-b608bcc40389919a795b8e4899bc2f3e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776003577&Signature=g9HlJAdyCA63EdXy~36Fldkyum7pp5v8cgWBcSTRJAbAgd5bEbUGeWqDWkoX-gmbtfynk6OYZbhi06PjjRgLQUVx4jpLqZCCnqZBeLr5V~VCz6NlI4yvKP0gdezNqdGCN116Yn2OnNRWTpAqdNss3HkaFl3OuyM3alVHlnCOnEvfrehCQ8OyP8DtyhosRBka7wsX165hVV85XGa6V6nUR-pfemkznmbdcasnVql5JrxLHZ68dBa3DtHjb4UCZjffxbVddHocOHWg~9dEsr92HjMXlsvNbv235cxT~QnnQHRWY3ctz7zKys6PNBP5suu4ce2AfAwDHqf0r3V7NnRKrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Community Redevelopment Agency of Orlando on Feb. 10 voted to award work to Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) for LED lighting upgrades in downtown corridors, with total costs not to exceed $1,500,000.

City staff described the project as a downtown lighting modernization that will replace older high-pressure sodium fixtures with LED technology across corridors including Amelia, Central, Garland, Terry, Lake Dot, Lucerne Circle, Magnolia, South Wall Street, Washington and Westmoreland. David (city staff) told commissioners the upgrades include pole and fixture replacements and are intended to improve safety and energy efficiency.

Commissioner Tony Ortiz highlighted a public-safety advantage of LED lights during discussion. \"Low-pressure sodium is those amber-looking lights... for police it's pretty hard ... you don't get an accurate description of a person,\" Ortiz said, urging support for the upgrade. Commissioner Stewart thanked staff for sending a map of the planned improvements.

The motion to approve the project was made by Commissioner Rose and seconded by Commissioner Sheehan; the council heard no recorded opposition and the motion carried on a voice vote.

The staff presentation estimated the total cost would not exceed $1.5 million and the CRA requested authority to proceed with the award to OUC. The item does not, in the meeting record, attach a detailed project schedule or funding source breakdown beyond the CRA authorization.

Next steps include contract execution with OUC and project staging and construction in the named downtown corridors; staff indicated they could answer additional questions as work proceeds.","The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) authorized a contract award to OUC for LED lighting upgrades across multiple downtown corridors, aimed at modernizing fixtures and improving public safety.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6341335,"Orlando council approves land-use changes for proposed men's homeless service center in Parramore amid public opposition",874,2205000,3079000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2257119-4182a22eb6da5665652582c3f79a35cf&start=2205&end=3079","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2257119-4182a22eb6da5665652582c3f79a35cf/thumbnail_2205000.jpg","/articles/6341335/Orlando/Orange-County/Florida/Orlando-council-approves-land-use-changes-for-proposed-mens-homeless-service-center-in-Parramore-amid-public-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341335-8868100853247c99ec4cca1712406460/orig.mp4?Expires=1776003577&Signature=TwjsuYmJc3do4zw6MDRZfJl317032JgiEL4Y9FBK0H3iKJfvxXlE0mZa3Q2ukCS9x01w6SgR7w5xSKKu6wIv3~o5UrNgPIVc~XuKtdOol0KOgf0a~yg-qxaZPsJpzGAdpqIJQDbg89q3PVyDrEU~v1Dnps0Gv-ht-tQ0AFGF~LP-33SAZ4m~MCUeJjXJTMeUNZW6eZTnhjRYDBcP-a-n~zfmc2JSOrVitaiqDl5YroseedVUx5FNUtepeHlfeXqXbuEigAZmzO~HZl6~VNHSXBpn1h3TjByVEQe6G2R-IDIQoLWUXt16e7X2rCMmF~SZSgKexJJDVT9zC6kAFKfH2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Orlando City Council on Feb. 10 approved two land-use and zoning measures to clear the way for a proposed men's homeless service center in the Parramore neighborhood after more than an hour of public comment.

Councilor motion and passage came after residents and advocates debated the project’s location. The council approved Ordinance 2025-3, a growth management map amendment affecting approximately 0.42 acres, and Ordinance 2025-4, a rezoning and land-development update tied to the Coalition for the Homeless Men’s Service Center covering about 4.98 acres. Both measures were moved by Commissioner Rose and seconded by Commissioner Sheehan; the mayor called for aye votes and the motions carried.

The ordinances change the city’s land-use and zoning designations for the parcels described in the ordinances and update the official zoning map to permit the men’s service center proposal. The city reading of the ordinances gave the sites’ boundaries as parcels near West Central Boulevard, North Paramore (Parramore) Avenue, North Terry Avenue and surrounding blocks.

Advocates who spoke at the public hearing urged the council to approve space for people without housing. Andrew Sagona, identifying himself as an Orlando resident, said he supported the project regardless of the site: “I just want there to be a homeless shelter somewhere,” Sagona said, urging organizations and institutions to find alternative sites if they opposed the location.

Several Parramore-area residents opposed locating the center in their neighborhood. Chelsea Cantilly, who said her home is on Page Street near the proposed site, described ongoing problems she attributed to nearby shelters and longtime concentrated homelessness: “We saw so many bleak people standing in the streets, piles of garbage, stolen shopping carts,” Cantilly said, and warned of violent incidents in the area she said involved recently released felons. Luana Gelser, who spoke in multiple agenda items, cited past policy changes that she said removed protections for Parramore and said residents were asked repeatedly to shoulder concentrations of services: “Why do we have to bear the brunt?” she asked. Gelser also questioned the scale and services of the planned facility and said she has paid for additional private security.

City staff and the ordinance text say the regulatory changes are to enable redevelopment and the site plan associated with the Coalition for the Homeless Men’s Service Center; the ordinances themselves set zoning and land-use authority but do not, by text read at the meeting, finalize building height, programmatic rules or the operator’s day-to-day policies. Several speakers asked the council for more detailed impact studies and clearer descriptions of security, operations and how services would be delivered.

The council did not record individual roll-call votes during the public hearing; the clerk asked for voice votes and the mayor announced the motions carried after all present answered “aye.”

Council members did not debate line-item operational details during the hearing. The council scheduled other agenda items and workshops at later meetings to consider project design and implementation steps.

The votes finalize city-level land-use and zoning changes necessary for the project to proceed through permitting and site-plan review. Opponents at the hearing urged the council and project proponents to identify alternate sites outside Parramore or to provide more community protections before construction and operations begin.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2025-3 (growth management amendment affecting approximately 0.42 acres) — motion by Commissioner Rose, second by Commissioner Sheehan, outcome: approved (voice vote; no recorded oppositions). Ordinance 2025-4 (zoning and land-development restatement for the Coalition for the Homeless Men’s Service Center, approx. 4.98 acres) — motion by Commissioner Rose, second by Commissioner Sheehan, outcome: approved (voice vote; no recorded oppositions).

Next steps: With the zoning and growth-management amendments approved, project proponents must follow standard permitting, site-plan review and any additional council or staff-directed community-engagement steps before construction or operations begin. The council and public speakers raised requests for impact studies and clarified operational details that would likely be considered in subsequent permitting stages.","The City Council voted Feb. 10 to amend the growth management plan and zoning to allow a proposed men's service center in Parramore. Supporters urged action to house people experiencing homelessness; nearby residents warned of crime, blight and repeated local impacts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Orlando council rezones 1.1 acres near Mercy Drive to Industrial General despite residents’ flooding concerns

CRA awards up to $1.5 million for downtown LED lighting upgrades

Orlando council approves land-use changes for proposed men's homeless service center in Parramore amid public opposition