Apopka planning commission recommends approval of three residential plats, raises stormwater questions

Apopka planning commissioners on March 11 recommended approval of three residential plans that together cover several hundred future lots, and approved the meeting minutes from Feb. 11.

The commission voted to recommend approval of the 4101 Golden Gem Road major development plan, the Eden Crest Phase 1 plat and the Willow Run plat after staff presentations and brief technical questions about stormwater staging, driveway layouts and lot dimensions. All motions passed on voice vote during the meeting.

The 4101 Golden Gem Road proposal covers about 9 acres east of Golden Gem Road and north of the Wild Oaks neighborhood-district overlay. Jean Sanchez of the community development department told commissioners the plan proposes 54 dwellings now within an overlay that allows a maximum of 198 residential units in the district; the larger maximum reflects buildout across the neighborhood overlay rather than this single phase. Sanchez said the development “benefits from the Wild Oaks 10 acre open space and recreation program in the North and Northeast areas.” Mackenzie Surgeon, the project engineer, said the site ties into a shared Wild Oaks stormwater system and confirmed “this development has been accounted for within that stormwater pond.” Commissioners asked whether the shared pond is sized for the full overlay density; staff and the applicant said additional applications and engineering would be required if later phases sought to use remaining density, and that other detention options (including underground systems) could be used.

Eden Crest Phase 1, presented by planner Amir Hamza, is a plat for the first phase of the Eden Crest subdivision at East of South Binion Road and North of Boy Scout Road. Phase 1 includes 184 lots; Hamza and staff said phase 2 will come later. Commissioners focused questions on stormwater and wetlands protection adjacent to the site. A commissioner noted stormwater appears to collect in a Tract C five-acre pond; staff explained the construction-site plan (previously approved) addresses detailed stormwater design and that the plat records tracts dedicated for stormwater and open space so the pond would not be within private lots once recorded.

Willow Run, proposed by MI Homes Orlando LLC, is a plat for roughly 56.56 acres (transcript: approximately 56 acres) on the southeast corner of Plumasorrento (Plymouth Sorrento) Road and Abbey Lane. Jean Sanchez said the plat creates 110 single-family lots, two stormwater tracts, four landscape-buffer tracts, three open-space tracts and six maintenance/access easements. She said those lots are in an RSF/RSFA-1B zoning district with 80-foot-wide lots; staff noted a minimum lot-area requirement applies in that zoning but commissioners asked for follow-up confirmation of depth/area standards.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of Feb. 11 meeting minutes — Motion by Commissioner Washington; second by Commissioner Woods. Result: motion carried (voice vote). - 4101 Golden Gem Road major development plan (owners: Kelly Park BB Development LLC; applicants: Kimberly Horn & Associates / Mackenzie Surgeon, PE) — Motion to recommend approval by Commissioner Washington; second by Commissioner Mott. Result: recommendation approved (voice vote). - Eden Crest Phase 1 plat (owner: Apopka Project LLC) — Motion to recommend approval by Commissioner Mott; second by Commissioner Ryan. Result: recommendation approved (voice vote). - Willow Run plat (owner: MI Homes Orlando LLC; applicant: Luke Classen, PE) — Motion to recommend approval by Commissioner Washington; second by Commissioner Ryan. Result: recommendation approved (voice vote).

What the commission recorded and what remains open

Commissioners repeatedly raised stormwater and lot-layout questions. For 4101 Golden Gem Road staff and the applicant said the subdivision will connect to a shared Wild Oaks detention system; they also said later phases proposing additional density would require subsequent applications and additional stormwater demonstration. For Eden Crest staff said detailed stormwater and the construction-site plan were addressed earlier in the project review process and that the plat dedicates the stormwater tracts; commissioners asked that wetlands and pond boundaries be clearly shown on future plat filings. For Willow Run staff confirmed the lots are 80 feet wide under the RSF/RSFA-1B zoning; the exact lot-depth/area figures were not read into the record and staff offered to follow up with written confirmation.

No members of the public spoke on these items during the meeting. Each of the commission’s approvals was a recommendation action recorded by the Planning and Zoning Commission; the transcript shows the motions carried by voice vote but does not record a roll-call tally in the minutes.

The meeting closed after the Willow Run action; commissioners did not add other new or old business in the record.