Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-18-11-144 — ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Request: Amend a previously approved Special Exception (SE-13-07-046) in the R-CE zoning district to modify condition of approval # 22 in regards to location of temporary and portable classroom facilities.

Decision: Approved

Hearing: OCPS is seeking to amend cond #22 from the May 5, 2015 BCC approval re location of temporary portable classroom facilities. Previous condition limited portables to the courtyard area between existing classroom buildings. Applicant would like to place additional portables in the practice fields located east of the courtyard. Staff outlined the case, photos, and what occurred at the community meeting, and indicated to the board where the applicant would like to place the portables. The applicant explained additional portables were needed as Winderemere High School is currently 600 students over capacity and enrollment is expected to grow yearly. The applicant played video from May 2015 BCC when the additional condition was placed by former Dist 1 Commissioner. A relief high school is planned on Seidel Rd. School board's attorney confirmed relief school would be complete by Aug 2021. The applicant explained how enrollment projections are conducted, the number of students estimated and the number of portables that are expected to be needed at that time. 12 portables will not fit in courtyard area and approximately 40-50 could fit on the practice fields. BZA had questions regarding projected number of students and how many portables are needed on a yearly basis. BZA had concerns that applicant would place all portables on site at that same time and wanted an additional condition stating that the applicant should phase installation of portables. 4 neighbors spoke in support, 3 neighbors spoke in opposition. The number of portables necessary, where they would be located, and when they would be installed was discussed at length. Condition #4 was amended to provide a sequence of installing the portables, require the portables in the practice fields be removed by August 31, 2021, and limited the number of portables to 62 overall. BZA approved the request allowing the portables on a temporary basis on the practice fields per the amended conditions.