Background Information
Tim Bailey, owner and developer of the 60+ acres just north of Stoneybrook (the cow pasture with the sink hole), has been holding community meetings with the people of Mount Dora, Stoneybrook and Sullivan Ranch looking for public support to rezone his agriculturally zoned property to a combination of commercial, professional office and dense residential designations.

The TIS development committee met with him and advised that we had to oppose any zoning changes to the property. As part of the 2003 Agreement with Orange County , the developers and the people of Tangerine, the boundaries of the Foothills’ (Stoneybrook) " Growth Center " were never to be expanded past their current point.  In order for this property to be developed at a greater intensity than allowed under an agricultural designation (1 unit per 10 acres), the original Agreement would have to be amended to expand the growth center and include his property. If this goes forward and the request is approved, the new zoning would then set the precedent for the remainder of Hwy 441 to apply for growth center inclusion and then develop in the same way. 

When asked “Why start developing now in this economy?” he responded by saying that the project would take approximately three years to complete and Central Florida would be back in recovery mode from  the current recession by then.  Added to this is that the Apopka Bypass/SR 429 connecting at Plymouth-Sorrento Road is due to be completed in about 2 years.  His project will be ready when the flood of new residents arrives.

Highlights from his plan, which is being described as the “quaint village” look, are: commercial buildings with residential on upper floors; residential element to consist of apartments and condos not single-family homes; tying into the Mount Dora “Rails to Trails” biking path if/when the trail is completed; and an important emphasis will be placed on landscaping which I took as being opposite to natural vegetation.  It was indicated that a large drugstore chain has been interested in locating here, and outside sources indicate that it is most likely a CVS.

In addition, a citizens’ advisory committee suggesting the types of retail for the site will be formed for the project, but its members will be appointed by the Mayor and Council from Mount Dora although no one from this City could confirm this for us.  This was the most surprising announcement since the last time I checked the property was still located in Tangerine, Orange County even though it’s being called “The Parks of Mount Dora.”  Developers have never caught on to the fact that we’re not “Dora wanna-be’s” and don’t get it when monikers like this are considered an irritant.

So now the quandary is “what to do with this property?” Let it go to “waste” and have 10 acre home spreads or as suggested by the slide show at the meeting – take down all the trees (and replace with “suitable” landscaping) and cover everything with pavement and buildings?  As you can guess, that image didn’t appeal to the many Tangerine folks in the audience.

However, if we take the opposite end of the argument and support Tim Bailey and his plan, it will ensure the end of Tangerine as we know it now since it will be only the first of many, many other requests for commercial rezonings.  The only safe thing to do is ask Mount Dora to annex the property and let their advisory committee make recommendations for the commercial development and the landscaping.  Of course I’m joking about this last point, but it sure would make our lives a lot easier.

As a final note, it should also be pointed out that the property was purchased by the current owner after the final agreement in 2003 was reached and that he actively participated in the hearings limiting the growth center.  Maybe he thought we would all go away once the dust settled and that no one would be there in 2009 to oppose his plans.  So, get ready...

See the tentative dates of community meeting and public hearings above as presented by the “Parks of Mount Dora” development team.