Lake Eola Heights Historic Neighborhood Association

Tired of the McMansion being built next door?

City reviewing changes to Growth Management Plan

As the popularity and property values rise downtown so have the applications to demolish and build in the Lake Eola Heights Historic District. Though new construction meets current GMP guidelines, they often "maximise" the lot which produces the McMansions. Lots are also split to accomodate more structures or consolidated to accomodate larger projects. Transitional zoning and "height averaging" of commercial development can result in a dramatic contrast of height of contiguous properties, not to mention the traffic patterns. Again, though this meets current GMP guidlines they do not necessarily meet the historic character of our district.

The historic district element is a component of the GMP. When there is a conflict between the historic portion and zoning, historic preservation can lose out to planning.

The Comprehensive Planning Studio is responsible for the following activities: Amend and update the GMP, review development projects for conformance to the GMP, develop residential and non-residential growth projections (including population and employment), disseminate demographic information to the public, conduct special studies related to various planning issues, coordinate with the Florida Department of Community Affairs concerning the Local Government Comprehensive Planning Certification Program, and coordinate with various state agencies concerning state-imposed growth management regulations. They are currently in the process of collecting, reviewing and recommending changes to the GMP.

Among the actions being mulled are redevelopment and neighborhood compatibility, (curbing the size of new homes in older neighborhoods), creating more incentives for developers to build affordable housing and requiring new construction to meet national water- and energy-efficiency standards. At the same time, the city wants to focus on protecting the character of traditional neighborhoods. Chief planner Kevin Tyjeski has said 'the projects are getting bigger everywhere.'

The City would like to see developers work with neighborhood associations to create community-based visions for new construction in their areas and recognizes that limiting commercial intrusion into residential neighborhoods is critical.

If you can attend any of the remaining public workshops please do, the schedule is on the Calendar of this web site. You can also contact Commissioner Sheehan at 407.246.2004 and let your ideas be known. The City has also commissioned an on-line survey, the link is provided on this web sites home page as "GMP Survey". Please post your opinions and use the 'fill in the blank' sections as well!