DRC reviews Wolf Lake Ranch phase 3 land-use amendment amid debate over Pumpkin Pines Road extension

The Development Review Committee on April 16 reviewed a comprehensive-plan amendment and rezoning request for The Summit at Wolf Lake Ranch, a proposed third phase of the Wolf Lake Ranch subdivision west of Bunken Pines Road. The applicant is represented by Bill Mackey of Dillon Design Group and project management was listed under Gene Sanchez.

The proposal would change the future land use from mixed use to residential very low/suburban (2 dwelling units per acre) and rezone the site from a mixed-use gateway district to a single-family residential zoning district (residential single-family 2B) so the new lots match phases 1 and 2. The request is at the plan-amendment and rezoning stage; no site plan or construction approvals were requested at the meeting.

City staff described the phase as an extension that will align access with existing Wolf Lake Ranch Phase 2. Tina Demostany, representing the applicant, said the developer expects to dedicate rights of way and build the road but asked the committee to consider neighborhood concerns and whether a separate pre‑application review should be scheduled to focus solely on the road design and access. “We just wanted to open up that conversation now because we're moving into our MDP, and we want to … address the concerns presented by the neighborhood,” Demostany said.

Neighbors from the Kennerley family asked that the city not require construction of the full road through a portion of their property; they noted a gate and informal use of the easement area and asked that construction stop before reaching their gate. Community-development staff and public-safety reviewers warned that leaving the road incomplete would limit emergency access. Mike McKinnon, a police representative at the meeting, said the city should not assume future maintenance costs if the road is not built now and said the developer should build and dedicate the full right of way. “That road needs to be extended to your development, so that the city of Apopka doesn't incur that cost in the future,” McKinnon said.

The fire department and city-engineer reviewers discussed the need for a turning area or cul-de-sac and confirmed the design must provide an approved fire-department turnaround. Staff noted that, during Phase 2 pre-application work, only emergency access within an existing easement could be provided because the full right of way was not then under the developer’s control; Phase 3 is expected to allow construction of the full 60-foot right of way and the necessary turnout or cul-de-sac.

Public-safety staff also raised concerns about school-zone signage near the project entrance. The police representative recommended adding active flashing school-zone signs consistent with existing equipment on Poncaham Road so drivers exiting Pumpkin Pines would clearly see when the school zone is active.

No formal vote or final administrative decision was taken at the DRC meeting. Staff indicated the land-use amendment and rezoning will proceed through the standard review steps, and the applicant may pursue an additional pre-application meeting focused on road design if the committee requests it.

The committee requested the applicant provide revised materials and coordination with fire and public-works staff on the exact location and design of the emergency turnaround, the timing of right‑of‑way dedication, and school‑zone signage upgrades. The item remains under review; no binding city action was recorded at the meeting.