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Apopka panel backs future land-use change and rezoning for Dewar Nursery site on West Keene Road
Summary
The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of a future land-use amendment and rezoning for approximately 38.6 acres on the southeast corner of West Keene Road and Martin Road to permit single‑family homes and townhomes; a nearby resident raised traffic and air‑quality concerns during public comment.
The City of Apopka Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 12 recommended approval of a future land‑use map amendment and companion rezoning for about 38.59 acres at the southeast corner of West Keene Road and Martin Road, commonly described as the southern portion of the Dewar Nursery property, to allow single‑family homes and townhomes.
The action would change the future land‑use designation from "agriculture in progress" to "residential medium low" and rezone parcels now classified as agriculture and transitional to RMF, residential multifamily, enabling a subdivision with a mix of single‑family and townhome products, commission staff said.
The change matters because it sets the allowable density and zoning category; staff described the request as a conceptual step that would allow the applicant to later submit detailed site plans. "This is a concept plan of the combined properties...it includes single family and townhomes," planning staff said, adding the Development Review Committee recommended approval.
Applicant Logan Opsall of Lowndes Law Firm told the commission the concept yields about 5½ units per acre when laid out to code and that the requested future land use and zoning permit up to 7.5 units per acre. He said the concept was provided to aid density and compatibility discussions and is not a final site plan.
During public comment, resident Francina Boykin said she lives nearby and asked how far the proposal had progressed and raised concerns about traffic on narrow local roads and pollution from a nearby landfill and incinerator. Planning staff explained the commission was deciding only the future land‑use designation and that later hearings would address zoning, site plan details and provide additional public‑comment opportunities.
Commissioner Woods moved to recommend approval of the future land‑use amendment "subject to the findings and facts presented in the staff report and exhibits," and Commissioner Washington seconded; the motion passed. Commissioner Woods later moved to recommend approval of the rezoning to RMF, with Commissioner Norwood seconding; that motion also passed.
No formal site plan or unit total was approved at the Aug. 12 meeting. Staff and the applicant said future submittals will include engineered plans, and any traffic or environmental mitigation would be reviewed during those later permitting stages.
