Planning commission approves Invitation Cove—43 townhomes proposed for 730 Monroe Avenue

APOPKA, Fla. — The City of Apopka Planning and Zoning Commission on June 10 recommended approval of the Invitation Cove major development plan, a proposed 43‑unit townhome subdivision on about 5.67 acres at 730 Monroe Avenue.

Planner Amir Hamza summarized the submission as a major development plan in the MU‑D (Mixed Use Downtown) zoning district that would create six townhome buildings totaling 43 units, with the development divided into Tracts that include two retention areas the plan labels Tracts D and E. The plan was recommended for approval by the Development Review Committee.

Applicant representative Kim Fisher said the stormwater design includes a "dry pond" sized to hold larger storm events and an emergency outfall connecting to Monroe Avenue. "It is a dry pond," Fisher said. "For the most part, it'll hold a larger than normal event, and then there'll be an emergency outfall that'll connect to Monroe." She said the development intends to preserve a tree area as open space in one tract but acknowledged the site has been used for illegal dumping and has required cleanup.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about stormwater, traffic, the location of retention tracts and tree preservation. Commissioner Washington requested maps of the retention locations; when shown, staff identified Tracts D and E as the retention areas and described a south‑side open‑space area for tree preservation adjacent to State Road 436. Commissioner Duman voiced concern that a 15‑foot buffer and proposed landscaping provide limited protection for the existing tree cover and called for stronger preservation measures. "I'm concerned with the buffer. I'm concerned with that that is a natural landscape right now. I'm concerned with tearing all those trees down to put these townhouses up and just protecting 15 feet on the South side," Duman said.

Staff confirmed the east property line requires a code‑required block wall; the applicant said the development team expects to meet that requirement. The plan also shows proposed left‑ and right‑turn lanes on Monroe to serve the project.

Motion to recommend approval was made by Commissioner Mott and seconded by Commissioner Woods; the motion carried. The recommendation will be transmitted to the city council as the next procedural step. The commission's action was a recommendation on the major development plan; construction approvals, final engineering, and any required off‑site work will be handled in subsequent construction‑plan reviews.