The new development was initially proposed back in June at a city commission meeting. The developer was turned down at that meeting. The developer would be funded by The Live Local Act, which is a program signed into Florida law to fund low income housing with donations from companies and individuals that include favorable tax rebates for the investors/donations.
Live Local Act Information Website
The developer's attorney's are set for another commission session for an appeal to approve the development - it was scheduled for November 5 (election day) but was rescheduled. At the time of this post it was set for the first meeting in January. There is a public information session set for December 10 (see the separate post on this page for more info).
There has been lots of discussion among neighbors over the pros and cons of this proposed development.
Studies on the effect on home prices range from substantially lowering home values to little to no effect on home values. This is just on the effect of the low income development close by your neighborhood.
Of course other factors to consider would be on the effects of the traffic and the population density increase, which would likely cause a substantial decline in values, especially in the mid to high end adjoining neighborhoods.
Looking forward to seeing neighbor's input at the commission meetings.
The initial commission meeting notice:
CITY OF OCOEE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE
APPEAL OF THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR DETERMINATION
OF VESTED RIGHTS
OCOEE GATEWAY – LIVE LOCAL AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECT
Notice
is hereby given that on
Tuesday,
November 5, 2024, at 6:15 P.M. or as soon thereafter as practical,
the
OCOEE
CITY COMMISSION will hold a Hearing at the City of Ocoee
Commission Chambers located at 1 North Bluford Avenue, Ocoee, Florida, to consider the Development Services Director’s denial
of an application submittal for a Large-Scale Preliminary Site Plan under the
Live Local Act, Florida Statutes § 166.04151 (the “Act”). The proposed development
would consist of 22 apartment buildings supplying 705 multi-family units and 46
single-family lots, 40% of which must meet the requirements of affordable
housing under the Act. The property contains approximately 69.32 acres and is
assigned parcel ID number(s) 21-22-28-0000-00-021 &
21-22-28-0000-00-029. It is located on
the southwest corner of the intersection of White Road and Clarke Road.
On July 22, 2024, the City denied the application on the
basis that the existing PUD zoning did not vest the applicant with rights to
build a Live Local Act project. The applicant is appealing this vested rights
determination to the Ocoee City Commission, and the hearing is scheduled for
November 5, 2024. This hearing will be a quasi-judicial evidentiary hearing. If
you have questions before the hearing about the proposed project, staff’s
denial of the application, or any potential impacts of the project, please
contact the City of Ocoee Development Services Department at 407-905-3157.
Location Map