Mount Dora planning commission OKs two developments; about 20 projects in progress

MOUNT DORA — Mount Dora's Planning and Zoning Commission gave the green light to move forward two housing development projects at its Wednesday meeting.

The commission unanimously approved the site plan for Bristol Park Apartments, a development which is the second phase of adjacent apartments that were completed in 1999.

The commission also unanimously supported the preliminary plat, or map, of the subdivision for the Villages of Loch Leven located at Meadenhall Boulevard and State Road 44.

Michele Janiszewski, the city’s senior planner, presented the applications to the commission and relayed the staff’s recommendation to approve both, subject to the engineering requirements specified with each plan.

Now, each will go to the Mount Dora City Council for final approval.

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Bristol Park Apartments

Zoned as high-density residential, Bristol Park Apartments' proposed plan contains nine three-story buildings that feature multi-family apartments with a club house and pool. The plan includes a total of 300 residential units with a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as several garages throughout the site.

The primary entrance is located south of U.S. Highway 441 at the Bristol Lakes Road intersection. The plan includes a secondary access off Limit Avenue that is restricted to emergency use only.

After Bristol Park works with the engineer to address outstanding comments, they will then resubmit their plans. Once those are approved, they can apply for their Site Development Permit for infrastructure and site work prep.

Villages of Loch Leven

The Villages of Loch Leven is located at Meadenhall Boulevard and SR 44. Zoned as medium-density residential, the proposed use of this vacant land parcel is 23 buildings with a total of 125 townhomes.

The developers intend to donate a two-acre site to the city for a park that will be the city’s responsibility to construct and maintain. Vince Sandersfeld, director of the city’s Planning and Development Department, said that this project would be consistent with Mount Dora’s Master Park Plan.

“We’re considering what amenities (it should have), but the concept right now is a passive park,” he said.

With the planning commission’s recommendation, the developer must first address engineering requirements prior to being forwarded to the City Council for consideration. If the preliminary plat is approved by council, then the applicant may submit the final construction plan and plat to the city.

During discussion, a commissioner questioned the need for a traffic light. Sandersfeld said that, based on a traffic study, this project would not trigger the need for a light. However, during the planning phase to widen SR 44 at a date yet to be determined, the Florida Department of Transportation will investigate appropriate traffic signals. He mentioned that the city council may consider a request to the Lake Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization to move that road project up its priority list.

What about traffic?

With separate but sometimes overlapping areas of responsibilities in development projects, the city works with government agencies on the state and local levels at a myriad of junctures. Traffic flow is one of those area where orchestration or, at a minimum, communication is needed among agencies.

During the meeting, commissioners raised questions about potential traffic flow issues in the surrounding areas of both projects.

Limit Avenue became a broader conversation about the roadway after a commissioner asked if the city had plans to annex it. Limit Avenue is currently under the authority of Lake County.

Sandersfeld mentioned several development plans in the works along Limit involving a dedicated right-of-way, including a proposed subdivision across the street from Bristol Lakes Apartments called Dora Landings Phase 2, Oaks at Dora Landings, another property towards Donnelly, and a couple of re-plats.

“We are currently talking to Lake County on the transfer of the right-of-way,” said Sandersfeld.

However, he cautioned that Limit Avenue is a "substandard cross-section" so the city would "have concerns on what kind of improvements would be needed first.”

He said he did not foresee a widening of the street but rather traffic management at intersections.

“We’re aware of the improvements on Limit and what will be happening in the future and the cost of those,” assured Sandersfeld.

On the horizon

A “New Development Status” document dated March 2022 can be found on the city’s website under the Planning and Development Department’s Planning and Zoning section. The list includes 20 institutional and residential housing projects totaling 2,957 units.

These developments, planned from 2020 through 2025, are in various stages of the process, such as “approved,” “under construction” or “under staff review.”

The final discussion at Wednesday's meeting centered on developments that are contiguous to, but not currently within, the city’s limits.

“The Mount Dora planning area includes the existing City plus those adjacent in unincorporated areas which are likely to have a significant impact on Mount Dora in the future, and which are also likely to benefit from public services provided by the City,” the city’s website describes. “These areas are logical future annexations for Mount Dora.”

The planning department is currently monitoring about six projects in the "contiguous" category – each has its own set of circumstances and is managed on a case-by-case basis.

The city’s standards and land use designations apply only as advisory provisions if the planning area is currently outside the city. In these types of circumstances, the city relies on Joint Planning Area agreements with Lake and Orange counties if a parcel falls into their jurisdictions, and until an annexation into the city may occur. If the project intends to take advantage of using the city utilities, then the developer must go through the city process.

An example is the recently debated Mount Dora Groves, a proposed mixed-use project outside the city limits. The developer originally initiated applications, including one for annexation, through the city. The applicant withdrew the requests in January and is instead moving through the Lake County process. Sandersfeld said that the city sent out a JPA letter two weeks ago about the Groves project that outlines the city’s requirements regarding utilities, annexation and timing of development.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Mount Dora moves forward with Bristol Park, Villages of Loch Leven