Planning commission approves Rock of Central Florida expansion and 141‑child daycare cap

The Seminole County Planning and Zoning Commission voted March 4, 2026 to recommend approval of a special exception allowing The Rock of Central Florida to expand its assembly space, renovate existing classrooms and add a daycare limited to 141 children.

Staff summary and recommendation: Senior planner Caitlyn Abgar told the commission the site — about 10.62 acres on the south side of West State Road 46, west of Orange Boulevard — has operated as a church since 2007 and previously held a 2016 special exception for a private school. The proposed project includes a new 14,519‑square‑foot assembly building with 330 seats, renovation of an 11,670‑square‑foot building for classrooms and daycare space, and revised landscaping and stacking plans to reduce queuing onto State Road 46. Staff recommended the commission forward the special exception and updated development order with a daycare cap of 141 children and a required traffic impact study during site‑plan review.

Why it matters: The application raises two distinct regulatory issues: county land‑use approval for expanded assembly/daycare uses under the updated land‑development code and the limits of local zoning authority over private schools after a 2024 change in state law. The county must balance neighborhood traffic, buffer requirements and conservation protections with community demand for child care and school capacity.

Applicant and neighborhood assurances: Maverick von Herbulus of McKe Construction, representing the applicant, said the new building is intended for assembly and offices and that renovation of the existing structure will serve the school and daycare. He stressed the project will not encroach on the conservation area and noted landscape buffering revisions submitted to address neighbors’ concerns: “We are not touching the conservation area at all,” he said. The applicant has submitted updated site and landscape plans into the county’s site‑plan review process.

Legal constraint on private‑school caps: During questioning, deputy county attorney Nissa Borcat explained that a 2024 state statute allows private schools to occupy certain venues (including churches) without local zoning approval if specific criteria are met, effectively preempting the county’s authority to impose a zoning cap on the K–12 private‑school enrollment that existed in the original development order. “The state preempted us on that requirement,” Borcat said, noting the county may continue to enforce health, safety and building codes but cannot use the special‑exception zoning process to limit private‑school enrollment. Daycare, however, is a separate land‑use category and remains subject to the county’s special‑exception authority.

Public comment: More than a dozen speakers — including pastor Steven Parker and parents, teachers and students affiliated with The Rock — urged approval. Parker emphasized the congregation’s local emergency response and outreach work and said the expansion would increase childcare capacity for working families. Twelve‑year‑old Gabrielle O’Brien described a wait list and cramped classrooms, saying the expansion would provide “life‑changing opportunities” for students.

Commission action and next steps: A commissioner moved to recommend the Board of County Commissioners approve the special exception with the development‑order amendment setting a daycare cap of 141 children. The motion passed with no recorded opposition. The county’s final action will be on the Board of County Commissioners docket; site‑plan review and a required traffic impact study remain before building permits are issued.

What remains unresolved: The transcript does not record a roll‑call vote or an itemized tally by member. The total number of students that will occupy all facilities concurrently was discussed but not definitively clarified on the record; commissioners and staff cited different figures during the hearing. The development order will reflect the 141‑child cap for the daycare, and county staff will process site‑plan and traffic reviews according to standard procedures.