Anybody working around Apopka's Kelly Park corridor lately knows it's busy. New neighborhoods are going in, roads are carrying more traffic, and now another 55 homes could be headed for Golden Gem Road.
The proposed subdivision is called Saddlebrook Meadows, and it would turn roughly 20 acres at 3585 and 3603 Golden Gem Road into a neighborhood of single-family homes. WKMG News 6 reported that Apopka city commissioners are scheduled to consider the project's rezoning and major development plan on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
What's on the table
According to city planning records cited by the station, the plan calls for:
- 55 single-family homes on about 20 acres
- Lots with a minimum of 7,500 square feet
- A maximum density of five homes per acre
- About 35.5% of the property set aside as open space, more than the city's 20% requirement
The land is zoned agricultural now. The proposal would change it to a Kelly Park Interchange mixed-use designation with a neighborhood character overlay. The city's Planning Commission recommended approval of both the rezoning and the major development plan at its Sept. 22 meeting.
That isn't a green light to build, though. The city told News 6 that commissioners are set to take up the second reading of the rezoning and master plan, along with the major development plan, on Wednesday. Even with those approvals, the developer would still need a separate Construction Site Plan approved through the city's Development Review Committee before work could start. No construction start date has been given.
Neighbors have questions
Luis Morin Dos Santos has lived nearby for about two and a half years. He said his family picked the area partly because it was affordable and peaceful.
"It's a quiet place," he said.
Asked how he feels about 55 more homes, his answer was one word: "Conflicted." His biggest worry is the road itself. "It's just a two-way, two-way street," he said. He sees possible benefits, like higher property values, but he's concerned about more vehicles, construction noise and the combined effect of several projects going up in the same area. He said he hasn't had flooding or drainage problems at his own property.
He'd like the city to do more to hear from people who live there. "Not everybody can go to those meetings, so just do a survey of the area," he said.
Traffic, drainage and fees
News 6 asked the city about traffic. Officials said the Public Works Department had reviewed and approved the submission, but they didn't share projected traffic figures, review findings or whether road improvements would be required.
On drainage, stormwater, water and sewer capacity, the city said it was still waiting on a response from Public Works. Apopka's development rules require that peak stormwater runoff after development not exceed the pre-development rate during a 25-year, 24-hour design storm. As the station noted, that doesn't guarantee flooding will never happen.
The city confirmed impact fees will be required, but didn't say how much or whether the developer would have to pay for other improvements.
In August, News 6 reported that Apopka was facing a funding gap on the planned widening of West Kelly Park Road. That's a separate project, and the station was careful to say the earlier funding problem doesn't mean the subdivision's traffic review falls short.
Schools are already full
Orange County Public Schools told News 6 the development would be zoned for Zellwood Elementary, Wolf Lake Middle and Apopka High. As of Oct. 15, Zellwood had 572 students against a capacity of 630, Wolf Lake Middle had 1,149 against 1,112, and Apopka High had 3,297 against 3,227.
The district also confirmed that school capacity determination APK-26-009 found capacity was not available for the development. OCPS said it recently rezoned parts of Wolf Lake Middle into Kelly Park K-8 and parts of Zellwood Elementary into Wolf Lake Elementary in anticipation of growth.
The commission meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Commission Chambers at City Hall, 120 E. Main St.
Why it matters for Contractors
Fifty-five single-family homes on 7,500-square-foot lots is a solid chunk of work for builders, site crews and trades in north Orange County, and it's one more sign the Kelly Park corridor isn't slowing down. But Wednesday's vote isn't the finish line. A Construction Site Plan still has to clear the Development Review Committee, and questions about drainage plans, road improvements and that school capacity finding are still open. Anyone hoping to bid should watch Wednesday's meeting and the review committee after it.