Commission approves townhomes, Ravaudage incentives and smoking ban
Packed agenda at final meeting of the year yields policy and project decisions
Dec. 16, 2023
By Beth Kassab
City Commissioners approved a 53-unit project, now including 15 single-family homes and 38 townhomes, in west Winter Park near Winter Park Village.
The project, known as Winter Park Commons, underwent extensive revisions with single-family homes now along the perimeter after residents complained the multi-story complex did not meld with the rest of the neighborhood.
While some residents continued to express skepticism about the development planned for a former church property, Mayor Phil Anderson expressed gratitude for the residents’ participating, saying it “made a difference” and also thanked the developer for being willing to make changes.
Other policy decisions at the Dec. 13 meeting include:
- Commissioners approved an additional $300,000 in reimbursements for road improvements to Ravaudage developer Dan Bellows. After questioning the justification for the incentives and delaying a decision on the matter in November, commissioners said they understood the need for the payment. The 50-acre mixed-use development originally negotiated about $1.2 million in such reimbursements for the city, but came back for more this year because the city annexed additional land related to the project into the city. The reimbursement will be provided through mobility fees paid to the city by businesses building inside the development, a staff memo said.
- Winter Park banned cigarettes and vaping at public park space with Commissioner Kris Cruzada as the lone dissenting vote. Some residents spoke against the policy, calling it government overreach. But commissioners ultimately opted to make Winter Park the latest Florida city to enact such a measure.
-
By: Beth Kassab
No biography available at this time
-
Hopefully Parks & Recreation director Jason Seeley will give some thought to how the signs he said will be installed are worded. “This is a Smoke/Vape Free Area” perhaps. The No dogs allowed, could be better also, Dog Free Area is a possibility.
Enforcement of ordinances like these is a question; are they enforced in any way?
Cigarettes and vapes only? Are cigars and old school Santa pipes still allowed? Is it ok if I bring my hookah to the next Central Park event?
The Florida statue only allows the city to regulate filtered tobacco products. Unfiltered will still be allowed. Sounds like the Miami cigar lobby bent an ear in the legislature?
Rollins is building a 139,000 sq ft dorm on its campus.
That is the equivalent of about 139 older homes on the West Side.
One hundred and thirty nine single family homes in one giant building on Rollins’ campus.
But The Voice doesn’t care.
And this is supposed to be the residents’ newspaper?
We published a story on this project back in early December and will have another shortly as its on the Commission agenda for next week: https://winterparkvoice.com/pz-board-approves-new-300-bed-rollins-dorm/