THIS IS NOT A DIAMOND COVE HOA BOARD
POSITION
THE LETTER IS INCLUDED HERE FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Waltrip Letter
Dear Neighbors,
We have been involved in many of the meetings over the past several years regarding the proposed developments in our neighborhood. As you may be aware, there has been a plan submitted to Orange County by a developer (Casto) who is working with the landowner (Kerina) to develop the land south of Buena Vista Woods into a large commercial center with residential development. They are proposing over 400,000 square feet of commercial development, as well as over 1,200 home sites. We are adamantly opposed to this development plan and would like to share with you some of the issues that impact our neighborhood:
1) Less than 3 years ago, Orange County conducted the "Orange Center Land Use Study" to determine how to protect our neighborhoods from the impacts of commercial development. According to this study, "encroaching tourist uses have created compatibility issues with existing single-family homes in the area." As a result of this study, Orange County developed and approved a land use plan to protect our neighborhoods from commercial development. The tourist commercial area south of 8th street would be bounded to the north by office development. The office development would run from 8th street north to 4th street. From 4th street north to 1st street would be assigned a land use of "Activity Center Residential." From approximately 1st Street north to the existing Fenton would be Low-Medium density residential, and north of Fenton would be Low Density Residential. You need to know that this plan also took into account our traffic conditions, school overcrowding, and parks and recreation facilities. Kerina and Casto want to develop a 400,000 square foot commercial center north of 1st Street, which violates the approved land use plan designed to protect our neighborhoods.
2) In order to put the size of this center into perspective, you need to know that the Dr. Phillips Shopping center has approximately 330,000 square feet of commercial development, the Plaza Venezia on Sand Lake Rd has approximately 230,000 square feet of commercial development, and the Fountains on Sand Lake Road has 110,000 square feet of commercial development. In fact, Disney's Celebration has 60,000 square feet of restaurant and retail development. Casto is asking for 410,000 square feet! Even if they cut their request in half, it would have a severe impact on the quality and value of our neighborhoods.
3) You need to be aware that the Orange County staff is willing to support this land use change in order to get an interchange at I-4. One of the major issues that the county is trying to fix is access from the Dr. Phillips neighborhoods to I-4. In traffic terms, the Sand Lake interchange at I-4 has failed, and cannot be substantially improved. Due to spacing restrictions between interchanges, the only logical place to put this is somewhere between the current Fenton Road interchange and Lake Avenue. This interchange would have to connect to Apopka-Vineland. One of the direct impacts of building any road that will have high traffic counts is the development that will certainly follow. Since they have already approved a fly-over to connect Fenton with International Drive, this will tie Apopka-Vineland to two major commercial arteries (Palm Parkway and International Drive). More importantly, it will stimulate the desire for additional commercial development on Fenton Road. There is an alternative that will move the "Fenton Road connection" to as far south as 3rd Street. This would keep commercial development out of our back yard and consistent with the Orange Center Study.
4) Everyone is concerned about the overcrowding of our schools. The development plan submitted by Kerina and Casto increases residential densities by almost a third - from the current entitlement of 935 to over 1,200 units. Unfortunately, even if the developer agreed to cut his residential density in half, it would not help the school system. If you look at all of the available land for development from Lake Buena Vista to the current neighborhoods, the existing school system will have to be expanded. Therefore, giving commercial development to this developer will not fix this problem
5) You also need to be aware that, in the past, our District 1 Commissioner, Theresa Jacobs, was instrumental in helping us stop Kerina from changing the land use plan and negatively impacting our neighborhoods. She needs to hear from you on this issue.
In summary, we are not opposed to development of the land adjacent to our neighborhoods. We are opposed to changing a land use plan that was developed specifically to protect the values of our homes. We need you to show up at the community meetings and let our elected officials know that we will not accept this change. We also need to tell them that they need to move the connection to I-4 as far south as possible, preferably to 3rd Street.
Thank you,
Mark Waltrip