Clermont, FL. Town Yields to Residents

Plaza Collina, residents agree to compromise [Orlando Sentinel]

Lake County’s largest proposed shopping center has cleared two major hurdles from state planners and local opponents.

The county Board of Adjustment on Wednesday approved a settlement agreement between Plaza Collina’s lead developer, The Goodman Co., and a group of residents who lobbied against plans for the 988,000-square-foot commercial center planned for 142 acres along State Road 50 on the Lake-Orange county line.

County commissioners also had asked the Florida Department of Community Affairs to determine whether those plans were significantly different from what they approved last year. State planners responded with an e-mail on Tuesday, reporting that “the Department does not have any evidence on which to conclude that the changes would create a substantial deviation.”

That is huge for Plaza Collina, where part of preliminary construction has been held up for weeks pending the decisions.

“We’re back, ready to rock and roll again,” said John Dowd, Goodman’s senior vice president of development.

Six residents had appealed to the Board of Adjustment, arguing that Plaza Collina improperly changed what was originally approved as a mixed-use development of retail, homes and offices to mostly retail.

They lobbied against possible impacts to the South Lake Trail recreation corridor, which runs along the north border of the property. They also argued against impacts from Plaza Collina’s largest proposed tenant—a 207,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter.

The residents met with Plaza Collina representatives to discuss concerns. The two sides reached an agreement late last week and pitched the idea Wednesday to the Board of Adjustment.

The residents agreed to dissolve their appeal. In return, Goodman agreed to submit modified plans to the county to possibly preserve more trees, limit external traffic impact and reduce development near the South Lake Trail.

Goodman also agreed to move the Wal-Mart Supercenter away from the trail to a more central spot on the shopping center site. The developer is expected to submit new plans to Lake planners within three weeks.

Plaza Collina also is required to spend about $8.5 million to widen a mile of S.R. 50 to six lanes in front of the project. The improvements also will add three intersections with traffic signals.

Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Thursday, September 20, 2007

Click Here for a Printer-Friendly Version