What were the most significant items on the Minneola Planning & Zoning Commission agenda for November 2024?

Q: What were the most significant items on the Minneola Planning & Zoning Commission agenda for November 2024?

· **Oak Valley Retail is the most community-contested project in Minneola:** Eight residents spoke against the Oak Valley curb-cut, with one resident presenting 40 days of video data showing 2,213 stop-sign violations. The 4-1 approval (McCoy dissenting) signals the Commission is advancing the project but acknowledging the site plan must change significantly. The developer's concession to donate land for a right turn lane shows community pressure is reshaping the project. · **Groveland Cherry Lake traffic spilling into Minneola:** Resident David Delp specifically noted Groveland's Cherry Lake housing development driving cut-through traffic on Oak Valley to Highway 27. Commissioner Focht confirmed Minneola tried to work with Groveland on traffic but it "did not go as planned." This cross-jurisdictional traffic conflict is a regional planning failure. · **Carla's Sweets adds food manufacturing to industrial base:** A bakery/warehouse operation delivering to Costco, Sam's, Walgreens, and Kroger represents meaningful economic diversification. The City's industrial zone near the cement plant is becoming an active employment center. · **Adult entertainment code scrutiny:** Monica Luna (804 Disston Ave) raised concerns that Minneola's adult entertainment code is too vague compared to Clermont's — a proactive push that may lead to code revisions. Joyce Heffington's response that Minneola's special exception process gives MORE control than Clermont's detailed code is an important governance nuance. · **Minneola Athletic Complex needs more than minor fixes:** The discussion about parking, concessions, and ADA compliance at the MAC revealed deeper facility needs. Commissioner Trujillo's comments about the facility being inadequate and needing adjacent land signal that a larger renovation or expansion may eventually be needed.

Meeting Reading

Minneola Planning & Zoning Commission

November 4, 2024

4 items on the agenda

**Oak Valley Retail is the most community-contested project in Minneola:** Eight residents spoke against the Oak Valley curb-cut, with one resident presenting 40 days of video data showing 2,213 stop-sign violations. The 4-1 approval (McCoy dissenting) signals the Commission is advancing the project but acknowledging the site plan must change significantly. The developer's concession to donate land for a right turn lane shows community pressure is reshaping the project.
**Groveland Cherry Lake traffic spilling into Minneola:** Resident David Delp specifically noted Groveland's Cherry Lake housing development driving cut-through traffic on Oak Valley to Highway 27. Commissioner Focht confirmed Minneola tried to work with Groveland on traffic but it "did not go as planned." This cross-jurisdictional traffic conflict is a regional planning failure.
**Carla's Sweets adds food manufacturing to industrial base:** A bakery/warehouse operation delivering to Costco, Sam's, Walgreens, and Kroger represents meaningful economic diversification. The City's industrial zone near the cement plant is becoming an active employment center.

On November 4, 2024, City of Minneola's Planning & Zoning Commission considered 4 agenda items. **Oak Valley Retail is the most community-contested project in Minneola:** Eight residents spoke against the Oak Valley curb-cut, with one resident presenting 40 days of video data showing 2,213 stop-sign violations. The 4-1 approval (McCoy dissenting) signals the Commission is advancing the project but acknowledging the site plan must change significantly. The developer's concession to donate land for a right turn lane shows community pressure is reshaping the project. **Groveland Cherry Lake traffic spilling into Minneola:** Resident David Delp specifically noted Groveland's Cherry Lake housing development driving cut-through traffic on Oak Valley to Highway 27. Commissioner Focht confirmed Minneola tried to work with Groveland on traffic but it "did not go as planned." This cross-jurisdictional traffic conflict is a regional planning failure. **Carla's Sweets adds food manufacturing to industrial base:** A bakery/warehouse operation delivering to Costco, Sam's, Walgreens, and Kroger represents meaningful economic diversification. The City's industrial zone near the cement plant is becoming an active employment center.

CHANGE LENS

THE READINGmeeting record

City of Minneola Planning & Zoning Commission — November 4, 2024

Meeting Overview

Type: Regular Meeting Quorum: Yes (5 members present including alternate) Duration: ~2 hours (6:32 PM – 8:26 PM)

Attendance

Present: Vice Chairman Oscar Trujillo (presiding), Commissioner William McCoy, Commissioner Nathan Focht, Commissioner Leonard Jackson, Alternate Denise Calderon
Absent: Chairman Jeff Henderson (excused by motion 5-0)
Staff Present: Jennifer Cotch (City Attorney), Joyce Heffington (City Planner)
Other: Councilor Debbie Flinn

Agenda Items

Item 1: Approval of September 9, 2024 Meeting Minutes

Type: Other
Action: Approved
Vote: 5-0

Item 2: Carla's Sweets Site Plan

Type: Site Plan
Location: Industrial area adjacent to cement plant
Applicant: Andres Perez (Managing Director), Dustin Culver (Engineer)
Request: Site plan approval for bakery and warehouse — two buildings, trail entrance, City utility easements for phase two sewer project
Staff Recommendation: Approval
Action: Approved with conditions
Vote: 5-0
Conditions: Subject to modifications addressing Kevin Carey's concerns
Notable Discussion: Joyce Heffington explained the project brings local employment and small business warehouse opportunities, plus provides City utility easements. Kevin Carey (20237 Sugarloaf Mountain Rd.) provided extensive review comments: crosswalk depositing pedestrians into traffic lane, door clearance issues on 5-ft sidewalk, missing parking stops and bumpers, ADA conflicts, forklift access with elevated floor, stormwater pond fence near transmitting pole, fire truck sweep path unclear, lighting conflicts with trees, and sidewalk/landscaping calculations missing. Dustin Culver (engineer) disagreed with some concerns, stating review corrections had been made. Commissioner Trujillo intervened to emphasize the board valued Carey's input and recommended Culver take his concerns seriously. Commissioner Focht raised parking space dimension concerns. Andres Perez explained the business manufactures cakes, cookies, brownies — delivering to Costco, Sam's, Walgreens, Kroger. Very minimal traffic with smaller delivery trucks. Perez noted 9 months of work on the project and committed to addressing all new comments.

Item 3: Oak Valley Retail Minor Subdivision Plat

Type: Subdivision Plat
Location: Corner of Oak Valley Boulevard and Highway 27 — two parcels totaling 5 acres, proposed split into three lots for retail commercial buildings
Applicant: Jonathan Huels, Lowndes Law
Request: Minor subdivision plat approval to create three parcels from two for retail commercial development
Staff Recommendation: Approval with conditions (conditional on variance approval)
Action: Approved with conditions
Vote: 4-1 (McCoy opposed)
Conditions: Subject to staff comments and acknowledgment that site plan will change significantly before next review
Notable Discussion: Most contentious item of the evening. Jonathan Huels explained three pending applications (variance, minor subdivision, major site plans). The developer agreed to dedicate land for a right turn lane onto Oak Valley Blvd from Hwy 27 after City Council feedback. Seven residents spoke in opposition: Derek Vogel (1217 Brightwater) — lighting and traffic concerns, requests fence buffer; Bruce Eaton (1406 Oak Valley Blvd) — opposes curb-cut and lot split; Toni Winters — wants alternative entrance/exit; Linda Eaton — questions about exits; Pat Gibaratz (1305 Windy Meadow Dr) — sidewalk to nowhere, curb-cut opposition; David Delp (1109 Canopy Oaks) — traffic from Groveland Cherry Lake using Oak Valley as cut-through; Megan Foottit (1307 Windy Bluff) — cited FDOT statute on curb-cut proximity to signals, bus stop conflicts; Danielle Duppenthaler (1149 Lakeview Oaks Dr) — presented personal traffic data showing 2,213 stop-sign violations in 40 days. Commissioner Focht opposed left turn; Commissioner McCoy wanted current traffic study and opposed curb-cut; Commissioner Calderon raised sinkhole concerns. Kevin Carey noted left-turn lane too short and right-turn lane too narrow.

Item 4: Minneola Athletic Complex Minor Site Plan Revision

Type: Site Plan
Location: Minneola Athletic Complex (MAC)
Applicant: Lake County
Request: Minor site plan revision to add pavilions, additional parking, restrooms, and concession stands
Staff Recommendation: Approval with conditions (parking landscape islands, ADA connectivity)
Action: Approved with conditions
Vote: 5-0
Conditions: Maximize parking spaces, address ADA compliance connectivity, add one additional concession stand, modify/improve original concession stand, address fire recommendations
Notable Discussion: Joyce Heffington noted 9 uninterrupted parking spaces vs. 8-space code limit. Commissioner Trujillo explained current facility problems and suggested utilizing empty land across the parking lot would be ideal. Joyce noted that land was dedicated as a park site, not parking. Discussion of using school parking (Grassy Lake Elementary leaves gates open). Commissioner Trujillo stated police presence is the only parking enforcement solution. Board recommended enhanced concessions and ADA compliance as conditions.

Public Hearings Summary

Number of speakers: 11+ (Kevin Carey on Carla's Sweets; Derek Vogel, Bruce Eaton, Toni Winters, Linda Eaton, Pat Gibaratz, David Delp, Megan Foottit, Danielle Duppenthaler, Andrew Ellingwood on Oak Valley; Monica Luna, Toni Winters in public comments)
General sentiment: Strong neighborhood opposition to Oak Valley Retail; supportive of Carla's Sweets and MAC improvements
Key concerns:
- Oak Valley traffic — resident collected data showing 2,213 stop-sign violations in 40 days
- Curb-cut on Oak Valley Blvd endangering residents
- Groveland Cherry Lake traffic using Oak Valley as cut-through to Hwy 27
- Bus stop safety conflicts near proposed curb-cut
- Sinkhole-prone area
- Adult entertainment code vagueness (public comment from Monica Luna, comparing to Clermont's more detailed code)
- Traffic speed and safety in Oak Valley neighborhood

Key Signals

Oak Valley Retail is the most community-contested project in Minneola: Eight residents spoke against the Oak Valley curb-cut, with one resident presenting 40 days of video data showing 2,213 stop-sign violations. The 4-1 approval (McCoy dissenting) signals the Commission is advancing the project but acknowledging the site plan must change significantly. The developer's concession to donate land for a right turn lane shows community pressure is reshaping the project.
Groveland Cherry Lake traffic spilling into Minneola: Resident David Delp specifically noted Groveland's Cherry Lake housing development driving cut-through traffic on Oak Valley to Highway 27. Commissioner Focht confirmed Minneola tried to work with Groveland on traffic but it "did not go as planned." This cross-jurisdictional traffic conflict is a regional planning failure.
Carla's Sweets adds food manufacturing to industrial base: A bakery/warehouse operation delivering to Costco, Sam's, Walgreens, and Kroger represents meaningful economic diversification. The City's industrial zone near the cement plant is becoming an active employment center.
Adult entertainment code scrutiny: Monica Luna (804 Disston Ave) raised concerns that Minneola's adult entertainment code is too vague compared to Clermont's — a proactive push that may lead to code revisions. Joyce Heffington's response that Minneola's special exception process gives MORE control than Clermont's detailed code is an important governance nuance.
Minneola Athletic Complex needs more than minor fixes: The discussion about parking, concessions, and ADA compliance at the MAC revealed deeper facility needs. Commissioner Trujillo's comments about the facility being inadequate and needing adjacent land signal that a larger renovation or expansion may eventually be needed.

Raw Notes

Meeting adjourned at 8:26 PM. Commissioner Focht educated members on the "Minneola City Serve" app for citizen issue reporting with photo uploads. Commissioner McCoy asked Councilor Flinn about Council progress on Oak Valley traffic issues; Flinn confirmed it's in discussion. Commissioner Trujillo asked Flinn to bring up MAC parking concerns and police presence with Council. Board members discussed the app informally after formal adjournment — Brad Maxam provided additional information.

[THE READING]meeting record