Ocoee approves land‑use change and rezoning for 150‑acre regional sports complex; developers to remediate brownfield

The Ocoee City Commission voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to adopt a large‑scale comprehensive plan future‑land‑use amendment and a corresponding rezoning for a proposed 150‑acre regional sports and mixed‑use complex on property at the southeast corner of Fuller’s Cross Road and Ocoee‑Apopka Road.

Zoning manager Whitfield told the commission the application would change about 117.7 acres from low‑density residential and 32.3 acres from conservation to commercial and create a new northwest activity center in the comprehensive plan. The site includes nine parcels and a city‑designated brownfield area formerly associated with Chevron.

Developer representatives said the planned project includes an amphitheater of active recreational space and entertainment: up to 17 ball fields, a legacy field for inclusive play, indoor sports facilities, hotels, retail and restaurants and roughly 1.3 million square feet of gross leasable area for mixed commercial uses. The application’s tax‑amendment language caps development at a 0.4 floor‑area‑ratio for non‑residential uses and limits net new trips from the site to 17,960 daily trips, staff said.

Marcus Pasion, an attorney representing the owner/developer, described the approval as "the end of the beginning" for a multi‑year project and said the team has worked with city staff since early 2022 on entitlements, environmental remediation, transportation sequencing and utility capacity. He said the JPA (joint planning agreement) with Orange County is scheduled for county action next month and that remediation and site preparation work will run concurrently with more detailed site plan and permitting work.

Representatives noted the property was designated a brownfield and that remediation is part of the scope. Marcus Pasion and the city manager said the developer purchased environmental insurance and that the city and Chevron will participate in a Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. City Manager Craig Shadrick told the commission the city required an environmental indemnification policy and negotiated protections, including a reversion clause on the Rogers property so that city ownership can revert if the project is not completed.

Staff presented review steps required by state law for large‑scale amendments, including compliance with Florida Statutes Chapter 163 (section 163.3177) and an expedited state review process. Whitfield said state agencies and regional reviewers were circulated and that staff received no oppositional comments from state reviewers before scheduling this adoption hearing.

Public comment included questions from property owners adjacent to the site about noise, visual buffers, access and arsenic contamination in soils; Ed Roberts, who said six families live immediately adjacent to a wooded tract, asked whether the developer had designed sound and visual barriers and whether acquisition of those parcels remained possible. Pasion and staff said those issues would be considered during the forthcoming site plan process and that acquisition or buffering discussions would continue with affected owners. Judah Howell, pastor of Glad Tidings Church on Fuller’s Cross Road, spoke in favor of the project.

The developer supplied estimates of economic impact and employment to support the application: the applicant estimated nearly 10,000 construction jobs during build‑out, approximately 5,000 permanent positions and more than $500 million in economic impact tied to tourism and related spending. The developer said vertical construction and public‑facing site work could extend into 2027.

Votes at a glance - Item 12 (comprehensive plan future‑land‑use and text amendment): Motion by Commissioner Wilson; second by Commissioner Furschner. Motion carried unanimously. - Item 13 (rezoning to PUD): Motion by Commissioner Scott Kennedy; second by Commissioner Oliver. Motion carried unanimously.

Why it matters: The approvals change the city’s long‑range land use designation and zoning for 150 acres and allow a large commercial and sports‑oriented development on a site the city expects to remediate and monitor as a brownfield. City staff emphasized state review under Chapter 163 and interagency coordination for environmental, transportation and public‑safety issues.

Next steps: The developer will proceed with site plan reviews, environmental remediation under DEP oversight and JPA approval with Orange County; city staff and the applicant will return with site‑specific plans, transportation sequencing and safety/emergency management plans during the development review process.