Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-04-08-143 — City of Winter Park

Request: Special Exception in I-2 (heavy industrial) zone to construct and operate a public utility (water treatment plant).

Decision: Approved

Hearing: "The Staff Report and Recommendation is located on Pages_____. The City of Winter Park is required to provide potable water to the unincorporated residents of this area. This is pursuant to utility agreements between Orange County and the City of Winter Park. The current water plant is located on University Boulevard near Forsyth Road. That plant is outdated and requires significant upgrades. The City has decided to find a new location that is more suitable to accomplish their design needs. Staff gave its presentation. The site is located approximately 750 feet from the south right-of-way line of Aloma Avenue. It is located behind a moving company on the north, an asphalt plant on the east and south, and apartments to the west. The Comprehensive Policy Plan Future Land Use Map designation is Industrial. The plant will use ozone to treat the hydrogen sulfide found naturally in the groundwater. The ozone will eliminate any odors. The tanks/apparatus will be enclosed in structures that look like typical buildings. In addition, the facility will not be visible from Aloma Avenue. In conclusion, staff supported the request. The applicant gave a PowerPoint presentation. They provided details about their site selection and their new technology. They addressed how odors will be treated. Two residents spoke in favor. They stated their homeowner's association misrepresented this request to the homeowners. The homeowners association distributed written correspondence that stated this was a sewage plant, not a water plant. In summary the speakers were strongly in favor of the request. There was no opposition present at the public hearing. The BZA concluded the request met the special exception criteria and would benefit the area residents."