Winter Springs commission adopts new district map, approves annexation and zoning for former auto auction site, clears plats and equipment purchases

The City of Winter Springs City Commission on June 23 took a series of votes on redistricting, land‑use changes, plats and municipal purchases. The commission also approved a zoning and future land‑use amendment for a parcel that was annexed in 2023 and discussed the site’s status as an EPA Superfund location.

Key outcomes (full votes and motions are listed below):

- The commission adopted the recommended commission district map (Ordinance 2025‑12) on second reading, a redistricting step the charter requires every three years. - The commission approved first reading of a comprehensive plan (future land use) amendment and a concurrent rezoning to shift four parcels on the north side of SR 434 and US‑1792 (the former Florida Auto Auctions parcels) from County industrial to City commercial and from County M‑1 to City C‑2. Members discussed EPA Superfund cleanup activity and requested staff to obtain the EPA’s latest reports. - The Sutton Crossing final plat (approximately 6.2 acres; Ace Hardware, Chick‑fil‑A pads) was approved subject to standard conditions: a subdivision bond, resolution of final surveyor comments and withholding of real‑estate closings until the plat is recorded. - The commission approved final engineering and site plan revisions for the Human Bean drive‑thru (changing specified pavement from concrete to asphalt) and authorized staff to proceed with permitting. - The commission approved the purchase of an AquaTech vacuum truck listed under the state/piggyback contract; the motion carried 4–1 with Commissioner Paul Diaz voting no.

Votes at a glance (motions, movers/second, recorded vote when provided):

- Item 400 — Ordinance 2025‑12 (second reading) adopting the commission district map. Motion: approve as presented. Mover: Deputy Mayor Cade Resnick. Second: Commissioner Mark Caruso. Vote: passed (recorded on the floor as passing on second reading).

- Item 401 — Ordinance 2025‑04 (first reading) future land‑use map amendment (4 parcels, ~9.82 acres; annexed parcel at 1333 US Hwy 1792). Motion: approve as presented (read by title). Mover: Deputy Mayor Cade Resnick. Second: Commissioner Mark Caruso. Vote: recorded ayes from Commissioners Bruce, Baker, Resnick and Diaz; motion passed.

- Item 402 — Rezoning ordinance (first reading) for same parcels to City General Commercial (C‑2). Motion: approve as presented. Mover: Deputy Mayor Cade Resnick. Second: Commissioner Sarah Baker. Vote: unanimous (recorded as passing unanimously).

- Item 403 — Sutton Crossing final plat approval (Sutton Crossing: ~6.2 acres subdivided into five parcels for Ace Hardware, retail and a drive‑thru). Motion: approve with conditions (subdivision bond, surveyor comments satisfied, no conveyances until recording). Mover: Deputy Mayor Cade Resnick. Second: Commissioner Mark Caruso. Vote: unanimous; motion passed.

- Item 404 — Seahawk Cove extension (final engineering, final plat, waivers, three specimen trees, development agreement). Motion: approve with conditions (see separate, in‑depth article). Mover: Commissioner Victoria Bruce. Second: Commissioner Paul Diaz. Vote: 3–2 (Caruso, Diaz, Bruce yes; Resnick and Baker no).

- Item 500 — Purchase of an AquaTech combination vacuum truck for utilities. Motion: approve purchase per staff recommendation (piggyback/state contract). Mover: Deputy Mayor Cade Resnick. Second: Commissioner Sarah Baker. Vote: Caruso aye; Diaz no; Bruce aye; Baker aye; Resnick aye. Motion passed 4–1.

- Item 501 — Human Bean (final engineering/site plan revision: change specified concrete areas to asphalt). Motion: approve as presented. Mover: Deputy Mayor Cade Resnick. Second: Commissioner Paul Diaz. Vote: unanimous; motion passed.

What commissioners and staff said

Redistricting: City Attorney Anthony A. Garganese read posture and staff confirmed the ordinance implements the city charter requirement in Section 4.02 to adjust commissioner districts based on population changes since the last review. Commissioners thanked districting commission volunteers.

Annexation, Future Land Use and Superfund concerns: Tara Lehi Roll (community development) explained the parcels at 1333 US Hwy 1792 were annexed in 2023 and the proposed future land‑use change (County industrial to City commercial) and rezoning (M‑1 to C‑2) align the parcels with adjacent commercial uses. Several residents and commissioners raised questions about an EPA Superfund remediation at the site. Mayor Kevin McCann and staff stated the EPA is actively monitoring and remediating the site and that annexation gives the city additional standing to request reports; staff agreed to provide the commission with EPA status reports and previous communications with the property owner and EPA.

Utility truck purchase: Utilities leadership and division staff described the 2002 unit proposed for replacement as increasingly unreliable and costly to maintain. Staff reported the new truck would expand capacity to service all of the city’s sanitary sewer lift stations (57 stations) and assist during high‑demand periods. The purchase will come from the water and sewer enterprise fund; part of the cost is offset by transferring the existing vehicle’s book value into the stormwater fund for capital accounting purposes.

Next steps and follow up

- Staff will supply the commission with the EPA’s latest reports and communications regarding the 1792 Superfund parcels and will post those records for the public. - City staff will finalize plat recording for approved plats once required conditions (bonds, surveyor corrections) are satisfied. - For the Seahawk Cove item staff was directed to find documentary proof of any prior arbor mitigation payments and to report back to the commission as part of implementation of the development agreement.

Speakers and source documents

Speakers who appeared on the record for these items include Mayor Kevin McCann; Deputy Mayor Cade Resnick; Commissioners Paul Diaz, Victoria Bruce, Mark Caruso and Sarah Baker; Acting City Manager Bridal Dunnegan; City Attorney Anthony A. Garganese; Tara Lehi Roll (director of community development); John Raven (senior planner); developer representatives (including Paul Partika) and counsel Lisonbee Turnbull Jones; and several residents who provided public input (Gina Schafer, Sheila Benton, Karen Meyer, Art Gallo). The annexation and Seahawk Cove items referenced recorded development agreements (2015 original agreement and a 2017 first modification) and the city’s arbor/tree mitigation ordinance.

For public records requests or to review the staff reports, exhibits and recorded votes, see the City of Winter Springs commission packet for the June 23, 2025 meeting.