Seminole County adopts rezone for Midway Loop Trail on 107 acres north of SR 46

The Board of County Commissioners of Seminole County on Aug. 12 voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance rezoning roughly 106.96 acres on the west side of Bridal Avenue, north of State Road 46, from A-1 (agriculture) to PLI (public lands and institutions) to permit a proposed public trail and future recreational amenities.

Caitlin Apgar, planning and development services, told the board the applicant sought the rezone so the site could be developed as a public trail about 4,947 feet in length with exercise equipment, a plaza and a pier. “The request for the rezone is to permit the proposed trail and recreation amenities, which is currently not a permitted use in the existing a 1 zoning designation,” Apgar said.

The county staff report said the parcel is currently a stormwater retention pond formerly used as a borrow pit, and that the future land-use designation — low-density residential — allows limited public uses such as publicly owned parks and recreational areas. The Planning & Zoning Commission on July 2 voted unanimously to recommend approval, and staff recommended the board adopt the ordinance.

One written public comment supporting the project was received and read into the record by a commissioner; a resident who came to the hearing, Dorothy Miller of Washington Oaks, asked staff afterward how the project would affect her address at 119 Anderson Avenue and requested a staff follow-up. The board directed staff to meet with the resident to answer her questions.

Commissioner John Herr, identified on the record as the district commissioner for the area, moved approval “based on staff’s findings and the testimony and evidence received at the hearing,” and the motion passed unanimously.

Staff noted the project is inside the City of Sanford’s utility service area but the trail as proposed does not require utility connections at this time. Any future amenities needing utilities would be reviewed at the appropriate time. The proposed trail will modify some existing sidewalk along Bridal Avenue and proposes future connection into Roseland Park in a later phase.

The ordinance now changes the parcel’s zoning to PLI to permit the trail and future park amenities; staff will return to the board with implementation details as those amenities are designed and funded.

The county clerk placed the record of community outreach and the planning commission minutes into the official file.