Council directs staff to refine plans for Lloyd Lane connection and expresses interest in buying parcel for a future fire station

Oviedo councilmembers discussed two parcels that together appear in the city’s mobility plan: (1) an approximately 4.13‑acre parcel that would allow extension of Lloyd Lane south to East Franklin Street (a “missing link” identified in the mobility plan), and (2) an approximately 2.85‑acre parcel on the same larger site that city staff identified as a potential location for a future fire station.

City staff said the Lloyd Lane extension would provide a north–south linkage from County Road 419 toward Franklin Street, shorten pedestrian/bike routes to nearby schools, and is listed in the city’s multimodal and intersections plans. Staff described the tract as containing both uplands (about 1.7 acres) and wetlands (about 2.43 acres) in the concept plan and advised council there is no obligation to buy but that acquiring right-of-way before development pressures increase is a standard practice used previously by the city and county. Staff said mobility fees, the sales-tax list and fund balance could be used to front any purchase with later reimbursement as fees/taxes are collected. Staff added that a formal appraisal would be required because of the parcel’s value and that a 60‑day due‑diligence period would follow a purchase contract.

Council members expressed concern about wetland impacts, mitigation costs, and uncertainty over final alignment and construction costs. One council member asked for a concept alignment that avoids wetland impacts; another requested a high‑level estimate of total project costs (including likely wetland mitigation and construction) before the council proceeds to due diligence. The seller’s representative, David Axel, said the parcel can be aligned to reduce wetland impacts and told the council the current asking price was set by the owner; he noted multiple buyers have expressed interest.

On the adjacent tract (about 2.85 acres), staff said the property contains a 1,900‑square‑foot house that could serve as an interim facility and that the site is on the future land‑use map as commercial/residential as noted in the packet. The asking price for the second tract was stated in the packet and by staff as $800,000. City staff said if council is interested they will bring a vacant land contract at the next meeting; acceptance of that contract would start a 60‑day due‑diligence period.

Council direction: For the Lloyd Lane parcel staff was asked to return to the March 3 meeting with (a) a conceptual alignment that minimizes or avoids wetland impacts where feasible and (b) high‑level estimates for mitigation and construction costs. For the proposed fire‑station tract council expressed interest and asked staff to bring a vacant land contract to the March 3 meeting to begin due diligence if the council wants to proceed. No final purchase was approved at the Feb. 17 meeting.

Votes at a glance: No formal purchase motions were adopted at this meeting; council authorized staff to return with additional concept plans, estimates, and — for the fire‑station parcel — a vacant-land contract to consider at the March 3 meeting.