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Longtime residents along Hilliard Isle Road in northeast Kissimmee raised concerns about a development city leaders approved last week for much of the area in green. GOOGLE MAPS
Kissimmee leaders have approved the annexation and zoning changes to land along Simpson Road in the city’s northeast limits to allow for a development of 3,000 residential units, 190,000 square feet of commercial space and 177 acres of conservation area on the north and east sides of Hilliard Isle Road.
According to the ordinance to make the land use changes, primary and secondary entrances to the community will be off Simpson Road. Emergency access will be limited to first responders to use Hilliard Isle, Borinquen Drive and Crest Drive, subject to Osceola County and City of Kissimmee permits and approvals.
The development is just to the west of East Lake Tohopekaliga, and the conservation area set aside assures that no homes will be located on the lakeshore, instead keeping it pristine green space, with potentially a walking trail.
A commercial zone with office and retail space is slated for the northwest portion of the property, near the entrance off Simpson Road. That’s the only parcel that would allow buildings of more than two stories; the residential component would be made up of one and two-story single-family detached homes and townhouses.
Residents in the area— many long-time owners— raised concerns. They included buffers along the edge of the property, where new construction would butt up against their property lines, and where multi-story houses could look down into those properties. Others said multifamily townhomes (which can only be a portion of the development according to the design standard conditions) would not fit in with the fabric of the existing neighborhood. The access on those residential streets like Hilliard Isle was also mentioned.
The City Commission ultimately passed the land change ordinances unanimously. The development had already unanimously passed the city’s Development Review Committee and Planning Advisory Board, with conditions regarding building standards.
To see the conditions, go to: https://kissimmeefl.portal.civicclerk.com/ event/1991/files/7523, starting on Page 11.
