Despite a full explanation — and impassioned plea — that it would not create an adverse neighborhood footprint by the developer’s planner, the St. Cloud City Council Thursday denied a land use change which would have allowed for the building of Heritage Crossing, a 27.66-acre, 198 two-story townhome development, to be built.
The requested change would have been from public/institutional, which allows limited housing units, to medium density residential, which would have made it possible for the development.
The land is near Lakeview Elementary School, and is owned by the School District of Osceola County. City officials said the project was compatible with the immediate area — the land is surrounded by medium density residential — and would cause no adverse impacts on city facilities.
The city’s Planning Commission recommended denial due to concerns regarding drainage and traffic, but city staff supported it with conditions, such as façade materials. The developers showed plans to reroute streets like 4th and 5th Streets and Robinson Avenue to alleviate possible traffic issues and public facilities like a playground and barbecue area, and noted that other professional uses would create more of a neighborhood impact.
But, after hearing the comments of area residents who were concerned about adding two-story townhomes to a neighborhood of single-story houses, the construction, traffic and school impact of the project, the Council voted 4-1 to deny the project.
Councilman Shawn Fletcher made the motion, noting concern with flooding and drainage, that the majority of the new homes will be duplexes, and proposed road changes will create even more construction in the area.
“When this is built, there will be stuff in the pipeline,” he said. “It’s going to be a while. The School District needs to reroute their traffic on their own site.”
“When school’s letting out, it’s unbelievable,” said Council Member Linette Matheny of the area. “I feel sorry for everyone who lives along that route and has to drive through it.”
Mayor Nathan Blackwell cast the dissenting vote against the denial, saying
“It’s frustrating making decisions such as this. This property is going to be sold,” he said, noting he lived in the area around Chancellor Road for 25 years. “Sometimes you think you’re making a decision in the best interest of the community and you end up making a mistake. I understand your frustration, but I think you’re going to end up with a worse situation if it goes commercial. This is not going to change the traffic problem.”
At the same meeting the council did approve a pair of ordinances assigning a future land use and zoning of Mixed Use for another development, Amavi St. Cloud, located south of Clay Whaley and west of Florida’s Turnpike. The plans include two new access points to Clay Whaley and future connections to properties to the east and west.
Council member Kolby Urban noted the land would have been developed whether the city had recently annexed the property or not.
