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Forest Hills neighbors oppose applicant’s plan to build 10 gated townhomes on wetlands‑adjacent lot
Summary
Owner‑applicants requested a rezoning (PD25‑0383) to build 10 attached townhomes on a mostly wetlands parcel on Ola Avenue; neighbors and Forest Hills Neighborhood Association objected on flooding, sinkhole and neighborhood‑character grounds; applicant said units will be luxury, gated and include on‑site retention.
An online applicant and owner told the zoning hearing master on Nov. 17 that a proposed development on Ola Avenue would provide gated, luxury townhomes while accommodating stormwater on site. Neighbors who live immediately adjacent to the property strongly opposed the rezoning.
Owner Bassam Demak and structural engineer Dr. Kurdi presented the request to rezone a ~4.9‑acre site from RSC6 to a plan development to allow 10 attached townhomes. Development Services staff noted roughly 45% of the site is wetlands and that, applying the county’s environmentally sensitive credits, the lot could support up to 13 single‑family homes; the applicant voluntarily reduced that number and proposed a 10‑unit townhome option and a retention pond design.
Neighbors and the Forest Hills Neighborhood Association submitted petitions and letters opposing the request. Speakers described repeated, historic flooding during storms, sinkhole activity adjacent to the parcel, narrow local streets, and the area’s long single‑family character. Beverly Keeney, president of the Forest Hills Neighborhood Association, said the neighborhood strongly prefers single‑family homes and asked that the county “deny the variance requesting proposed rezoning that would allow these 10 townhomes.” Several neighbors submitted photos and video showing high water and past damage.
Applicants responded that they have new wetland delineations and engineering to locate retention on site that complies with county and state permitting; Dr. Kurdi said the plan reduces the number of units from the 13 allowed by calculation to 10 and that the proposal will be built to code with required borings and permit reviews. He characterized the planned product as “luxury townhomes” in a gated setting and said design elements will address drainage.
Opponents requested a more extensive independent hydrology review and emphasized that the hearing record includes no post‑hearing submissions; the hearing master closed the record for this hearing and will issue a written recommendation for the Board of County Commissioners to consider.
