Apopka council approves transfer of Ocoee‑Apopka Road after county language changes; design funding, sidewalks and drainage remain outstanding

Mayor Brian Nelson opened discussion on an interlocal agreement to accept a portion of Ocoee‑Apopka Road from Orange County and an adjacent property at 1102 Ocoee‑Apopka Road. Jean Sanchez, with the city’s Community Development Department, told the council the county asked for a small language revision to its template after BCC review; the change adjusts the timeline for the county’s mill‑and‑resurface work to occur within 12 months of the city accepting the transfer.

Pam Richmond, a transportation consultant who worked on the project, said the design phase is funded and the city previously set aside about $1,000,000 for design. Richmond told council the Ridge development has an agreement to fund part of the widening from Harmon Road to 13th Street and that impact fees from adjacent development would be placed in a construction pot and used to reimburse developers for construction costs. She said the design is roughly 60% complete for the first segment and that issuing a purchase order to the consultant is the next administrative step.

Several council members and members of the public pressed staff on unresolved issues. A resident, Rod Olsen, asked whether the city should assume more liability and maintenance costs while the city still has storm‑drainage problems in other areas; Sanchez and Richmond said the conveyance includes documentation and prior site assessments and that the county had previously characterized the parcel as a debris or landfill site rather than a contaminated brownfield. Richmond said, “It’s not a contaminated site,” and noted the county had supplied about 350 pages of site assessment documentation. Staff agreed to verify any environmental findings and share them with council.

Council members also asked who will manage the project once the deed transfers. Sanchez said a project manager will be assigned after the ILA is executed; council members noted the city is actively recruiting a transportation planner and that consultants are available to manage design oversight in the interim.

Mayor Nelson called for a motion to approve the interlocal agreement. Commissioner Smith moved to approve; Commissioner Anderson seconded. The council voted and the motion carried unanimously.

What happens next: staff will finalize the procurement step (issue the PO for design), confirm the county’s resurfacing schedule documentation, and provide council with documentation of the $1,000,000 design funding and the site assessment for the 1102 parcel. The agreement requires additional design and construction work to be funded through a combination of the Ridge development contribution, impact fees and future capital appropriations.

Vote: Interlocal agreement approved unanimously.