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Commission recommends rezone to PD for Mercedon Building despite neighbor concerns about sidewalks, wildlife
Summary
The commission voted Dec. 3 to recommend rezoning roughly 0.47 acres from C-2 to PD for an office with accessory warehouse; a nearby resident opposed the project citing lack of sidewalks, a school bus stop, wildlife (bald eagles, otters) and ~39 additional daily trips; the applicant said sidewalks will be provided and the site previously held a Wendy’s.
The Seminole County Planning and Zoning Commission on Dec. 3 recommended that the Board of County Commissioners approve a rezone from C-2 general commercial to PD (plan development) for the proposed Mercedon Building, an office with accessory warehouse on about 0.47 acres at the southeast corner of Division Street and Wells Avenue.
Caitlin Apgar, planner with Development Services, summarized staff findings that the project meets comprehensive-plan and PD criteria, proposes a floor‑area ratio of 0.2, provides at least 25% on-site open space and includes proposed sidewalk connections and bicycle parking intended to improve multimodal access. "Staff finds the proposed PD plan development zoning classification to be consistent with the comprehensive plan," Apgar said.
A nearby neighbor, Grace Edwards of 711 Meredith Street, spoke in opposition. "There's a school bus stop right at this corner. There's no safety for these children out on the street," Edwards said, raising additional concerns about the lack of sidewalks, the project's context-sensitivity adjacent to residential properties, and wildlife on and near the parcel, including a mating pair of bald eagles and otters. She also said the project would add approximately "39 additional trips" per day as estimated in materials she referenced.
Johnny Herbert, the applicant's civil engineer, responded that the development will provide a sidewalk connection to the surrounding area and that the site previously hosted a Wendy's. "So we are putting in a sidewalk that connects back into that region," Herbert said, and he characterized the proposed use as a trades office with low parking‑lot intensity rather than a retail strip center.
Commissioners asked staff to clarify the sidewalk location and right-of-way obligations; staff said the proposed sidewalk would be toward Division Street (the north side) and not internal to Wells Avenue, and that final engineering would handle service-area and utility transfers noted in the staff report.
After discussion, the commission moved and seconded a recommendation to approve the rezone and related development order; the motion passed with no recorded opposition. The recommendation will be transmitted to the Board of County Commissioners for final consideration.
The transcript shows both public safety and environmental concerns from a neighboring resident and staff responses on design and sidewalk placement; the P&Z vote was a recommendation only, subject to county commission action.
