Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-03-11-073 — UNIVERSITY PARK ASSOCIATES/Cont. to Dec. 4, 2003

Request: Special Exception in C-2 (general commercial) zone to expand university use (Full Sail Real World Education) onto adjacent property. (NOTE: The Full Sail Real World Education is located on the southeast corner of Semoran Boulevard and University Boulevard. They want to lease additional space in the University Park Plaza shopping center to the south. No new construction is proposed).

Decision: Approved

Hearing: The Staff Report and Recommendation is located on Pages_____. This request was continued from last month to allow the applicant to meet with the residents of Winter Park Pines (located to the west). The applicant conducted a community meeting prior to the BZA meeting. Approximately 20 residents from the Winter Park Pines community attended. The applicant gave an overview of the school's expansion plans. Their intent is to initially occupy 30,000 sq. ft. of space in the shopping center. When other leases become available, they would have the option to lease additional space as well. The applicant discussed their on-site security and off-site housing programs. There were approximately 10 Winter Park Pine residents in attendance. They stated they had concerns about traffic, limited parking in the shopping center and students renting homes in their community. The BZA concluded the request was appropriate at this location. However, they felt the Bachelors Degree program should be limited to 30,000 sq. ft. in the new center due to the concerns of the residents. They felt this was a fair compromise. Staff advised all parties that vocational schools and technological schools are permitted without the need for a special exception. That means the existing school could grow without the need for special exception approval as long as it was offering two-year degrees, not four-year degrees. The BZA and the residents understood. Staff received approximately 55 commentaries in opposition. Approximately 1200 notices were sent out on this hearing.