Poinciana gets new medical development, lower Pleasant Hill speed limit
The Osceola County Commission Monday approved zoning changes to give the go-ahead for two more developments along Kissimmee Park Road, and for a medical office on Reeves Road in Poinciana.
The change to Low Density Residential (LDR) was unanimously approved to add communities along Kissimmee Park and Clay Whaley Road, where development is already occurring.
The approval came despite the objections of those who live in the area, saying they have one way out of their communities—Clay Whaley, which is often congested at the Florida’s Turnpike interchange, especially at morning and evening drive times.
“The Turnpike traffic blocks Clay Whaley, so we couldn’t get out if there’s an emergency,” said local resident Nelly Hernandez, who also chairs advocacy group Osceola Action Committee. She showed a Youtube video that described the issue; more traffic comes off the Turnpike than the traffic signal there can control, meaning Clay Whaley traffic can be severely delayed getting to Old Canoe Creek Road.
While the county noted that developer DR Horton has agreed to expand Kissimmee Park Road before new homes are built, the county will build a connection to Cross Prairie Parkway to connect to Tohoqua, and that the Turnpike interchange will be moved and rebuilt at Nolte Road, residents say they don’t address a need for another way out of the Kissimmee Park area.
“You need to finish the other roads (the county is widening multiple roads around the county currently) before you work on another one,” resident Johnny Baize said. “Or, this will become another Los Angeles.”
Osceola County Community Development Director Ray Stangle said the Nolte Road interchange is under construction, and plans for Cross Prairie are near completion, the won’t be open until early 2029 and 2027 respectively.
Commissioner Cheryl Grieb, whose District 4 includes the Kissimmee Park area, said she’s “excited” to get developers to work with the county to build the road on their development.
“It usually means it gets done faster, and cheaper,” she said.
Commissioner Ricky Booth got a favorable response from the public present Monday when he noted, “It sounds like I’m hearing we need to shut down (development on) Kissimmee Park without the secondary road.”
The Reeves Road medical development on a lot just west of Pleasant Hill Road was approved, 4-1, with Booth voting against, saying he couldn’t support the process.
To go along with the Poinciana approval, the Board also agreed Monday in a consent agenda item to drop the speed limit on Pleasant Hill Road from Reeves Road to Poinciana Boulevard from 55 to 45 mph.
The county says the corridor sees upwards of 56,000 vehicles a day, and with the Cirrus Center commercial development proposed in the area, the action would help ease crash and fatality risks, especially to bicyclists and pedestrians. The area includes schools Bellalago Academy and Liberty High.
“With high traffic volumes and safety concerns for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles, a 45 mph speed limit aligns with surrounding sections of the corridor and helps mitigate crash risks,” county officials said in the agenda item. “Due to high crash rates (447 crashes in five years, including pedestrian fatalities), high traffic volumes, roadway curvature near a school zone, and significant pedestrian/bicyclist activity, an additional reduction to 45 mph is justifiable based on supplemental investigation provisions.”
“We could use a measure to keep that corridor as safe as possible, knowing the amount of traffic it sees and how many accidents there have been,” said Commissioner Brandon Arrington, whose District 3 includes Pleasant Hill Road.
This was done on the same day that the county adopted a proclamation proclaiming support for legislation mandating the use of hands free devices while driving in Osceola County.
