St. Cloud council approves three NOVA ordinances and multiple voluntary annexations

The St. Cloud City Council voted Tuesday to approve three ordinances enabling the NOVA commercial project and to accept a set of voluntary annexations, after staff told the council the proposals meet statutory requirements and after residents raised concerns about taxes, disclosure and service readiness.

Melissa Dunklin, St. Cloud director of community development, told the council the NOVA project files include a voluntary annexation, a comprehensive plan amendment and a zoning map amendment. “On or before 03/31/2025, staff recommended approval. Planning commission also recommended approval. And we are requesting that the council approve ordinance number 2025-43, ordinance number 2025-44, and ordinance number 2025-45 for the voluntary annexing, comprehensive plan amendment, and amendment for the project known as NOVA,” Dunklin said during her presentation.

Why it matters: the ordinances and annexations expand St. Cloud’s municipal boundary and its land-use controls in areas the city says are contiguous to existing limits. Council members framed the approvals as part of managing growth, extending city services and public-safety coverage into fast-growing areas.

Key facts and council actions: Council Member Urban moved approval of ordinance 2025-43; Council Member Paul seconded and the clerk recorded a 5-0 vote in favor. Motions to approve ordinances 2025-44 and 2025-45 likewise passed on roll calls recorded as unanimous. The council also considered and approved a larger set of voluntary annexations processed under the city’s joint planning agreement with Osceola County; that annexation motion was moved by Council Member Urban and seconded by Council Member Gilbert and carried on a recorded vote.

Public-safety context: Fire and police chiefs described existing responses in the annexation areas and said city units are generally closer than county stations. “So statistically speaking, we ran half those calls,” Fire Chief Jason said when describing responses in the Twin Lakes area, and added that in several neighborhoods the city’s units are about “a minute to 2 minutes” closer than the nearest county apparatus. Police Chief Doug Durkee said patrol officers routinely respond to medical calls alongside fire units and that city officers carry first-aid equipment including AEDs.

Public comment and staff clarifications: Dozens of residents at the hearing urged the council to reject or postpone annexation, saying they had not been informed about encumbrances recorded by developers, and warning of higher taxes and unclear transitions for services such as solid waste and water. Staff provided numeric illustrations during the hearing: Dunklin said the city’s solid-waste billing structure would save an “estimated $67 per household per year” versus county billing, and that the absence of a county EMS tax would save an “approximately $245 per year” for city residents; staff also presented an overall “net increase [to] approximately $795 per year” for a representative taxable-value example, a figure residents disputed during public comment and asked the city to clarify.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance 2025-43 (NOVA voluntary annexation): Motion by Council Member Urban; second by Council Member Paul; outcome: approved, 5-0. - Ordinance 2025-44 (NOVA comprehensive plan amendment): Motion: approved, 5-0 (second recorded as Council Member Gilbert for one motion); outcome: approved, 5-0. - Ordinance 2025-45 (NOVA zoning/PD): Motion by Deputy Mayor Fletcher (recorded on the floor); outcome: approved, 5-0. - Annexation (project listed as annex 25-00003 / encumbrance annexation zones): Motion by Council Member Urban; second by Council Member Gilbert; outcome: approved (recorded as unanimous vote).

What’s next: Council discussion indicated staff will continue outreach and follow-up with property owners on permitting transitions, address the specific transition steps for water and sewer connections, and finalize fire-station construction timelines mentioned during the hearing. Several members said they plan further community meetings in neighborhoods affected by the annexations.

Ending: Council members emphasized the approvals reflect the city’s obligations under its joint planning agreement with Osceola County and the city’s planning staff recommendations. Council members also acknowledged residents’ concerns and directed staff to provide follow-up information on cost calculations, permitting transitions and the schedule for the new Neptune Road fire station.