Carolyn Cooper recently sent an email with the subject: “13,753 Daily Trips Generated,” related to the Orange Avenue Overlay, apparently thinking this was a meaningful data point. She thoughtfully linked a video of the traffic consultant’s presentation on future traffic expectations. I encourage you to take time to view the video. The presentation debunks years of dogma about traffic as a meaningful Winter Park policy issue. I am no fan of large development within Winter Park but we need our leaders to stop making “traffic” the boogeyman and focus on encouraging redevelopment that complements the character and quality of Winter…
Category: Development
The OAO – A Tragic Comedy
Our new city commission has held four work sessions on the Orange Avenue Overlay (OAO) after they rescinded the previously approved overlay ordinances on March 30, 2020. Rescinding the OAO threw away years of professional planning and hundreds of thousands of dollars. As predicted, they now waste even more of our money and resources. Links to videos of these work sessions are below. Watch them if you enjoy a good tragic comedy. April 23, 2020 Work SessionApril 30, 2020 Work SessionMay 27, 2020 Work SessionJune 25, 2020 Work Session Please email the city commission and tell them to STOP wasting…
Bad Governance
We have good reason to be upset and concerned about our new city commission. The intent of the Orange Avenue Overlay was to create a new mixed use neighborhood similar to Park Ave and Hannibal Square, extending and re-enforcing the Winter Park character that benefits all residents. This opportunity is now dead. Two new members of the city commission, Sheila DeCiccio and Marty Sullivan, and two existing members, Carolyn Cooper and Todd Weaver, worked feverishly immediately after the March 17th election to “rescind” the Orange Avenue Overlay (OAO) Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Land Development Code that had earlier received final…
Winter Park Density and Traffic
Fellow Winter Park Residents, Strategic issues are at the top of my mind as I serve as your city commissioner. As the central Florida area grows, I hear complaints from some Winter Park residents about density (more people) and increased traffic. Some of this is politically motivated badgering and some is genuine frustration. Turns out there are facts that can give us a clear picture of reality. I propose we discuss reality as a community, rather than accept ranting and dogma as a substitute for facts and well thought out policy. Here are a couple of starting points. Density: Winter…
What’s up with Ravaudage at Lee Rd and 17/92?
Dear Fellow Residents, Last year, your city commission unanimously changed our Comprehensive Plan to remove the possibility for rezoning land for high density residential use (greater than 17 units per acre) (see page 1). We did this exactly to discourage proposals for large apartment buildings such as that under construction in Ravaudage. We also agreed to remove Planned Development zoning from the Comprehensive Plan and to create yet to be defined Mixed Use zoning (think Hannibal Square). So then, what’s up at Ravaudage? Ravaudage is a 54 acre Planned Development project approved by Orange County in 2011 (see page 279)….
Commission Votes 3-2 to Approve Historic District Law
On December 14 commissioners, McMacken, Cooper, and Seidel voted to make the 50%+1 neighborhood voting threshold to form a historic district the law in Winter Park. Mayor Leary and Commissioner Sprinkel objected to the law and voted no. All members of the commission acknowledged, either directly or through their silence, that the law has nothing to do with history and everything to do with controlling residential redevelopment. I addressed the commission prior to the final vote as follows (click image to view video) (text of my comments below): I rise again to object to this law. Historic preservation is good….
More on the Politics of Historic Preservation
The following provides background related to my recent email arguing against the Historic District language in the proposed Historic Preservation law up for public comment at city hall October 7 at 9 AM and 5 PM , and to be considered by the city commission on November 9th. Please consider attending one or both of the October 7th meetings to argue against the Historic District aspects of the law. The revised proposed law includes technical improvements, especially as they relate to voluntary agreement of owners to propose their property for inclusion on the Winter Park Register of Historic Places. We…
Defend Your Rights – Attend October 7th Meeting
Strident Historic Preservation advocate Betsy Rogers Owens says, “I’m not here at all to put a hard sell on anybody” while she tries to enable historic preservation oversight for all improvements to your property. The city is seeking public comment on another proposed revision to our Historic Preservation law at both 9AM and 5PM on Wednesday, October 7th in City Hall Commission Chambers located at 401 S. Park Ave. Please consider attending one or both of the October 7th meetings and argue against the Historic District aspects of the law. Does the Historic District law apply to my property? YES. The…
Improving Winter Park Historic Preservation
As I have noted in previous writing (here and here), historic preservation policy for private properties in Winter Park needs to offer meaningful incentives and be less threatening to encourage voluntary participation. Current policy and the proposed draft both compel private owners into compliance with a deeply flawed “historic district” policy. Current policy requires a 66+% vote of neighbors to compel participation of 100% of properties within a proposed district. The draft policy proposes to reduce this threshold to 50+% resulting in even more likely neighborhood fights and related legal action. When a critical mass of our 8,500 single family…
Politics of Historic Preservation
I continue to promote voluntary agreement by property owners to participate in historic designation as the wise choice for Winter Park. As we consider the current and initially proposed Historic Preservation ordinance along with the Historic Preservation Board and the City Commission, I thought it useful to explore some of the background of how we got to today. I love history, real history, history being a recounting or observation of lives, events, and places from our past that make us think and gives us a perspective that informs our own lives, values, and behavior. The realities of “historic preservation” in Winter…