Orlando council rezones 1.1 acres near Mercy Drive to Industrial General despite residents’ flooding concerns

The Orlando City Council on Feb. 10 approved Ordinance 2025-5, rezoning roughly 1.1 acres west of Mercy Drive and south of Silver Star Road from a medium-intensity residential district to Industrial General with the Wekiva Overlay.

The ordinance was moved by Commissioner Rose and seconded by Commissioner Sheehan; the motion passed on a voice vote with no recorded opposition in the meeting transcript.

At the public hearing, LaJuana (Luana) Gelser, who earlier spoke on other agenda items, urged the council to reconsider zoning changes that reduce tree canopy and increase impervious surfaces, warning that removing wetlands and trees exacerbates flooding. Gelser referenced recent and long-term drainage concerns in the Mercy Drive area and questioned the need to convert residential land to industrial use.

The ordinance text read at the meeting identifies the parcel as approximately 1.1 acres and describes the change from medium-intensity residential within the Wekiva Overlay District to Industrial General within that same overlay. The ordinance provides for an amendment to the city's official zoning map and indicates standard severability and scrivener's-error corrections.

Council members did not debate the environmental concerns at length during the hearing; the public speaker’s remarks asked the council to weigh sustainability and long-term flood risk when approving rezoning and to consider alternative locations.

Because the ordinance changes zoning classifications, future development proposals on the parcel will proceed under Industrial General standards and must comply with Wekiva Overlay regulations and any applicable environmental review processes.