[{"_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",6321625,"mediaKeyId","2349489-9579c13322a1e693b31adc4852a59b0d","parentId",2349489,"title","Ocoee approves land‑use change and rezoning for 150‑acre regional sports complex; developers to remediate brownfield","audioSeconds",4325,"startMs",2067000,"endMs",6392000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2349489-9579c13322a1e693b31adc4852a59b0d&start=2067&end=6392","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2349489-9579c13322a1e693b31adc4852a59b0d/thumbnail_2067000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6321625/Ocoee/Orange-County/Florida/Ocoee-approves-landuse-change-and-rezoning-for-150acre-regional-sports-complex-developers-to-remediate-brownfield","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321625-e383b5a4e5dba91c2ee84e9fb4ccf62a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775865030&Signature=PYjofaAgmfxZRGdzjDLgJgvSOAFQ2E7eia5PcYdNtWPfcytRiIQGXpZ3gVRe3GGgJsBP5b0tJrw2S0m93h0w314gez5-Zznxw7qtttcsni57ty3SZbOIukYwwlNRBpyimRpLX2wKQj79z5i8ENIwccnT1sKCjmqtcjGtDdUyt0h36L2RfJS1du2bmtdbMuhySOuLF6sptiQP7MaXmuYeDyJDOlls4j6f2kBmwU-IugTpRh8lWwvNk08ebxCOGcNINcayD9sq3qCfjTbXoHYxwN3bh49atu5Q~I2YxPB9kBC9rdEaskRRJaxlRZej2-PkCWyVGOGpvGKQG2psmvDkUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Ocoee, FL","date","2025-02-19T14:56:37Z","article","The Ocoee City Commission voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to adopt a large‑scale comprehensive plan future‑land‑use amendment and a corresponding rezoning for a proposed 150‑acre regional sports and mixed‑use complex on property at the southeast corner of Fuller’s Cross Road and Ocoee‑Apopka Road.

Zoning manager Whitfield told the commission the application would change about 117.7 acres from low‑density residential and 32.3 acres from conservation to commercial and create a new northwest activity center in the comprehensive plan. The site includes nine parcels and a city‑designated brownfield area formerly associated with Chevron.

Developer representatives said the planned project includes an amphitheater of active recreational space and entertainment: up to 17 ball fields, a legacy field for inclusive play, indoor sports facilities, hotels, retail and restaurants and roughly 1.3 million square feet of gross leasable area for mixed commercial uses. The application’s tax‑amendment language caps development at a 0.4 floor‑area‑ratio for non‑residential uses and limits net new trips from the site to 17,960 daily trips, staff said.

Marcus Pasion, an attorney representing the owner/developer, described the approval as \"the end of the beginning\" for a multi‑year project and said the team has worked with city staff since early 2022 on entitlements, environmental remediation, transportation sequencing and utility capacity. He said the JPA (joint planning agreement) with Orange County is scheduled for county action next month and that remediation and site preparation work will run concurrently with more detailed site plan and permitting work.

Representatives noted the property was designated a brownfield and that remediation is part of the scope. Marcus Pasion and the city manager said the developer purchased environmental insurance and that the city and Chevron will participate in a Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. City Manager Craig Shadrick told the commission the city required an environmental indemnification policy and negotiated protections, including a reversion clause on the Rogers property so that city ownership can revert if the project is not completed.

Staff presented review steps required by state law for large‑scale amendments, including compliance with Florida Statutes Chapter 163 (section 163.3177) and an expedited state review process. Whitfield said state agencies and regional reviewers were circulated and that staff received no oppositional comments from state reviewers before scheduling this adoption hearing.

Public comment included questions from property owners adjacent to the site about noise, visual buffers, access and arsenic contamination in soils; Ed Roberts, who said six families live immediately adjacent to a wooded tract, asked whether the developer had designed sound and visual barriers and whether acquisition of those parcels remained possible. Pasion and staff said those issues would be considered during the forthcoming site plan process and that acquisition or buffering discussions would continue with affected owners. Judah Howell, pastor of Glad Tidings Church on Fuller’s Cross Road, spoke in favor of the project.

The developer supplied estimates of economic impact and employment to support the application: the applicant estimated nearly 10,000 construction jobs during build‑out, approximately 5,000 permanent positions and more than $500 million in economic impact tied to tourism and related spending. The developer said vertical construction and public‑facing site work could extend into 2027.

Votes at a glance
- Item 12 (comprehensive plan future‑land‑use and text amendment): Motion by Commissioner Wilson; second by Commissioner Furschner. Motion carried unanimously.
- Item 13 (rezoning to PUD): Motion by Commissioner Scott Kennedy; second by Commissioner Oliver. Motion carried unanimously.

Why it matters: The approvals change the city’s long‑range land use designation and zoning for 150 acres and allow a large commercial and sports‑oriented development on a site the city expects to remediate and monitor as a brownfield. City staff emphasized state review under Chapter 163 and interagency coordination for environmental, transportation and public‑safety issues.

Next steps: The developer will proceed with site plan reviews, environmental remediation under DEP oversight and JPA approval with Orange County; city staff and the applicant will return with site‑specific plans, transportation sequencing and safety/emergency management plans during the development review process.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Ocoee's Commission Meeting Recorded on 2.18.2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Ocoee City Commission unanimously adopted a land‑use change and rezoning to permit a 150‑acre regional sports and mixed‑use complex at Fuller’s Cross Road and Ocoee‑Apopka Road, with developers and the city committing to brownfield remediation and transportation planning.","taxTitle","Ocoee, Orange County, Florida","taxId",54401,"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},6321632,"Lake Apopka Natural Gas urges Ocoee to require natural gas in new developments",1426,99000,1525000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2349489-9579c13322a1e693b31adc4852a59b0d&start=99&end=1525","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2349489-9579c13322a1e693b31adc4852a59b0d/thumbnail_99000.jpg","/articles/6321632/Ocoee/Orange-County/Florida/Lake-Apopka-Natural-Gas-urges-Ocoee-to-require-natural-gas-in-new-developments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321632-f776788cc135b2ea23a5c72727630b82/orig.mp4?Expires=1775865030&Signature=kQmnaguUOyKllGfvXgx4raE~i~AVrPE9CAyXkE5GHqzAoMP2956rvJXl6cpKuBjJS4T07tV2aarYMnYiTggPM1tRlle2dYiT1ayw5LTQ4tB0m8bkCA7G-fZlAXdw-6Pqju1kJYGfKwrrWy0w4CCHLhDBhSObf0eZ7hcUPNF9bO4~1PgBusnOPq9Cys2ZG4dvpHSrFzj5BcsHUGyM9bQ~H0NCbkRNsA1JXHFnJEcdULdOZGMc2O4tercZNEzUVgeuqXbDfW9CgQvggYn1fqdXq3F3OEAR7HMgMH7-egzGupt3cWKTz2r95jppumaD54vnq7bYOnPBl8Zsup8aHceY4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lake Apopka Natural Gas General Manager and CEO Brent Haywood presented an \"Energy Choice\" initiative to the Ocoee City Commission on Feb. 18, urging the city to adopt an ordinance requiring natural gas infrastructure in new residential developments.

Haywood said the utility currently serves about 29,000 customers in West Orange and South Lake counties and is nearing 30,000. He told commissioners that many new housing developments are built with electric service only and that requiring natural gas would give residents a choice and reduce household energy costs. \"It's about having a choice in what your energy is,\" Haywood said.

Haywood said, at the national level, an all‑electric heating model would be expensive and that Florida is already dependent on natural gas for electricity generation. He cited a conversion inefficiency and estimated statewide annual energy losses, and said his analysis showed families in Lake Apopka Natural Gas’s service territory could lose as much as $1,000 per household per year when limited to electricity versus having natural gas available. He also said about 11,000 homes in the city of Ocoee lack access to natural gas.

Commissioners and members of the public pressed Haywood on costs and implementation. Commissioner Scott Kennedy asked about per‑lot installation costs; Haywood said installing gas service during initial construction costs about $1,000 per lot on a typical 60‑ to 100‑foot lot and about $3,000 per lot to add service after the development is finished. Kennedy said a quick online search showed per‑lot figures from $2,500 to $12,500; Haywood said those higher numbers reflect different geologic conditions and difficult trenching in some western states.

Haywood said the district has worked with nearby municipalities and that Apopka, Winter Garden and Claremont have adopted similar ordinances. He described a three‑phase plan: (1) stop new developments from being built without natural gas, (2) extend service into existing developments over time, and (3) use revenues to reinvest in system expansion and incentives to homeowners and homebuilders rather than developers.

On financing, Haywood said cost sharing between the district and developers is built into the draft ordinance and that each city has implemented that language differently; in some cases the district will extend up to a specified distance and the developer pays the remainder. He said the district would not impose costs on the city and has offered incentives targeted to homeowners and builders rather than developers. He also said the district will evaluate situations where extending service is economically infeasible and include exceptions in any ordinance.

Mayor Johnson and commissioners agreed to have staff and the utility meet and return with proposed ordinance language and legal review. The commission did not vote on any ordinance at the Feb. 18 meeting; the item was treated as a presentation and initial discussion and was referred back to staff for review.

Why it matters: The proposal would change how utilities are required in new housing developments in Ocoee, affecting construction costs, developer obligations and long‑term energy options for households. Commissioners asked for details on cost impacts and how the city’s ordinance would be tailored so that it does not require the city to assume construction costs.

Proposals and next steps: Haywood said Lake Apopka Natural Gas drafted model ordinance language and would send it to the city for legal review. Commissioners asked staff to coordinate with the utility and to return a formal ordinance or recommendation at a future meeting.

","Lake Apopka Natural Gas presented an \"Energy Choice\" initiative to the Ocoee City Commission proposing an ordinance that would require natural gas infrastructure in new subdivisions, arguing lower costs and local benefits; commissioners asked about per‑lot costs, cost‑sharing and how the ordinance would be implemented.",{"_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},6321620,"Ocoee updates tree code: defines protected trees, allows limited single‑family removals with arborist report",307,6462000,6769000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2349489-9579c13322a1e693b31adc4852a59b0d&start=6462&end=6769","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2349489-9579c13322a1e693b31adc4852a59b0d/thumbnail_6462000.jpg","/articles/6321620/Ocoee/Orange-County/Florida/Ocoee-updates-tree-code-defines-protected-trees-allows-limited-singlefamily-removals-with-arborist-report","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321620-757830c7c1ec7a019c2acd7530e93141/orig.mp4?Expires=1775865030&Signature=hY2nCgWfyC7C~QROIq6YhUJNi7jdQrKidYv5Kb6~r~sUXhXgDg1QHxCFw3gNta0bXfMlkSbujG4kKF0QsEr8WLGXGC1IOttdHpb3Ui7caG9CB~oGx~7~s5AoppUmhCZNxvhTh5VAgdETuwN3fxV28RwAJ~4RfwDJ~fLYb27vSroR66ZWLXX84cKEtwv5l13gzLNv1aQPM1--vzc02wOzv20v0wKU5hdVo761L~W4TYrBaxfVd0vwwrUJ8et8lHpwqLnB1xILGxfk3toemzqevpv~BFbGH8l0Oa4lerw-1zX6NfGHkBtRsMIxv3JMEixCZ9EKJPdjUibaxI4Obnh~TA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ocoee City Commission adopted amendments to Chapter 45 (arbor code) and Chapter 163 (trees on public lands) on Feb. 18 to clarify the definition of a \"protected tree,\" revise removal procedures, establish administrative review for HOA/POA removal requests and set standards for right‑of‑way pruning.

Development Services Director Ginger Cortes told the commission the revised definition designates a protected tree as \"8 inches or greater in diameter per DBH (diameter at breast height)\" and also protects newly planted trees installed as part of an approved construction project. She said a permit is still required to remove a protected tree except for actively occupied single‑family detached residential lots where a licensed landscape architect or certified arborist documents a moderate or higher risk using an ISA tree risk assessment form. Cortes emphasized that when removal is justified by a professional risk assessment the homeowner must have the arborist’s certification available on site and must submit documentation to the city within 10 days.

The code amendments also clarify minimum lot landscape requirements and the review process when homeowners associations or property owners associations request removal of multiple protected trees. Large HOA requests that could alter an approved community landscape plan may require a site‑plan amendment and commission review, Cortes said.

On public land and right‑of‑way standards, staff proposed a clearance standard of 14.5 feet over roadways and 8.5 feet over sidewalks and said the city will develop internal maintenance standards and outreach materials for tree companies and HOAs so the changes are implemented smoothly.

Commissioners asked about enforcement and penalties. Cortes said unauthorized removal would be a code violation enforceable by code officers and that the code update does not create a requirement to grind stumps on private lots (HOAs may impose additional requirements by contract).

Vote: Motion to adopt the ordinance was made by Commissioner Scott Kennedy and seconded by Commissioner Firth; the ordinance passed unanimously.

Why it matters: The update gives clearer rules for residents, HOAs and contractors on when protected trees can be removed, clarifies documentation requirements for dangerous trees on occupied single‑family lots, and sets right‑of‑way pruning standards for public safety and maintenance.

Next steps: Development Services staff will perform outreach to HOAs and local tree professionals, update internal maintenance practices for parks and public works and pursue further land‑development code updates that may adjust tree requirements by lot size.

","The commission unanimously adopted amendments to Ocoee’s arbor code and tree‑on‑public‑lands rules that redefine protected trees, set removal standards, allow limited single‑family removal without a permit when supported by a certified risk assessment, and add right‑of‑way pruning clearances.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ocoee approves land‑use change and rezoning for 150‑acre regional sports complex; developers to remediate brownfield

Lake Apopka Natural Gas urges Ocoee to require natural gas in new developments

Ocoee updates tree code: defines protected trees, allows limited single‑family removals with arborist report