New fines for historic preservation demos delayed
The commission also decided against a mail-only vote on gas-powered leaf blowers and recognized the Winter Park High volleyball team as state champs
Jan. 9, 2025
By Beth Kassab
The City Commission put off for 60 days a decision on new penalties for historic properties that are demolished without approval after residents spoke out against the new rules and called for more opportunities to give input.
Speakers included Charlie Clayton, who owns a construction company involved in the unauthorized demolition of 965 Lakeview Drive in the historic College Quarter neighborhood, which is bordered by Rollins College and Lake Virginia.
He stepped to the podium and referred to himself as the “scourge who created this” and called for additional workshops about the new rules before they are put into place.
Winter Parkers have long tussled over historic preservation rules with some in the camp of preserving the architectural contributions of often smaller homes built 50 or 100 years ago and others looking to maximize square footage on high-priced lakefront lots and other valuable property with more modern builds.
Suzanne Brandon, who lives in College Quarter, said she was in favor of the new rules to preserve the neighborhood, but also asked for more communication with the residents.
“I am in favor of this … we do need the 30% fine to prevent developers from bypassing the historic preservation board,” she said. “We need to make sure what is being built maintains the historic aesthetic.”
Mayor Sheila DeCiccio expressed disappointment that over time the rhetoric turned “nasty” and caused “divisiveness.” She noted that people move to Winter Park because of its charm and the unique historic homes that add value to the city — “that’s what keeps our housing prices so high.”
She supported a 60-day pause on the new rules and fines to allow staff to hold a workshop with historic home owners and other interested residents to provide more feedback on the changes.
No mail-only vote for leaf blower question
After urging the commission to move to a mail-only ballot for upcoming vote on whether the city should keep its ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, City Manager Randy Knight on Wednesday put a halt to that concept.
Turns out, he said, that a mail-only ballot would cost the city an additional $20,000 or so compared to an in-person vote.
As a result, commissioners opted against moving to the mail-only method if the two seats up for grabs on the commission remain unopposed by the Jan. 21 deadline. The election will be held March 11.
Good news for Winter Park Playhouse
The board gave official approval for a contract to by the building occupied by the Winter Park Playhouse. The nonprofit professional musical theater has spent nearly two years trying to secure a home after the building’s owner decided to sell and told the group it would lose its lease.
The deal is made possible through an $8 million grant from county Tourist Development Tax dollars. The Playhouse has pledged to raise $2 million toward the project.
“I hope you are able to hear the applause that erupt at the playhouse every time we announce that we will be able to stay at our location,” playhouse board member Judith Marlowe told the commission.
Volleyball team recognized as state champs
Commissioners took a moment on Wednesday to celebrate the Winter Park High School volleyball team, which won the state title in November, it’s sixth championship in the program’s history.
“We played the toughest schedule we could find,” said Coach Stephanie Gibson, who was recognized last month as Florida Dairy Farmers girls volleyball coach of the year, making her what the Orlando Sentinel called a “36-year legend and the first coach to claim that honor five times.” “I’m so proud of the work we do on the court, probably the more impressive thing is each and every athlete also received” honors related to their academic performance.
WinterParkVoiceEditor@gmail.com
Congrats to Coach Gibson and the team!! Great job!
Winter Park Playhouse is done very nice plays that I have been to. I feel Winter Park needs a theater like Winter Garden Theater that recently closed. They are just a notch under Dr Phillips and I would love that type of venue to be in Winter Park. We deserve it!
If that’s the plan for the old library, then I will volunteer to help in anyway I can
” …new penalties for historic properties that are demolished without approval …” The penalties proposed were for a much broader range of circumstances, not just demolishing homes. Replacement windows, doors, roofs, etc. are also candidates for heavy fines under the proposal. That is what has people concerned.