Amco Development returns to Mount Dora City Council for vote on June 4

ABOVE: A portion of the Amco Development's revised plan presented to Mount Dora City Council on February 5, 2024. Due to the site's topography, some of the actual building heights could be approximately 40 feet taller or more than indicated on the above rendering.

It's been a long and winding process, but a controversial 38-acre, mixed-use development will ultimately land at the feet of Mount Dora City Council again at a meeting and final public hearing on June 4. 

The proposal features high-density housing, as well as office and commercial space, senior living and other uses. At least eight mid-rise buildings would exceed the current zoning’s 100-foot height limit, and includes two buildings that would be 175 feet tall when measured from S.R. 46 or potentially over 200 feet when measured from grade (see attached site plan below).

RELATED:  Mount Dora City Council decline AMCO Development settlement agreement

The city has a method for calculating building height, but AMCO’s method of measuring from a random lateral plane on S.R. 46 is not consistent with it. Typically, proposed building height measurements are taken from grade (the ground at the base of a building). Due to the topography of the property sloping downward 40 to 46 feet from S.R. 46, the actual building heights in the masterplan and ordinance could be significantly taller when measured from grade and depending on where the buildings are placed and final site preparation.  It's unclear why the City didn't require its standard measurement method be applied, which would have ensured transparency to the public about the development and the ordinance being voted on.

RELATED:  AMCO files legal action against City of Mount Dora

Eight of the 10 proposed buildings in the development would exceed the area’s current 100-foot maximum building height.  The heights of those buildings are as follows: 

• Two buildings with maximum heights of 175 feet measured from S.R. 46  (B & C on site plan)
• One building with a maximum height of 165 feet measured from S.R. 46. (D on site plan)
• Two buildings with maximum heights of 150 feet measured from S.R. 46  (A on the site plan and the remaining portion of the property on site plan)
• The proposed hotel building maximum building height of 138 feet measured from S.R. 46.
• The proposed senior living building maximum height of 125 feet measured from S.R. 46.
• The proposed multi-story indoor self-storage is 100 feet maximum height measured from S.R. 46, however measured from grade, it could exceed that by approximately 40 feet.

The AMCO Development project originally came before Mount Dora City Council in February 2023 with a proposed building height of 310 feet, but the City Council voted down that proposal.

After a proposed settlement between the City and the developer was voted down by a 4-3 vote of the City Council, a Special Magistrate recently recommended the City allow the 175-foot building height measured from S.R. 46.  The CIty Council will vote to  accept or reject that magistrate’s recommendation.

On June 4, the Council is expected to vote on the revised AMCO project that would be built in three-phases andwould have a maximum of:

• 865 apartments
• 665 condominiums
• 275 senior living units
• 900,000 square feet of office space
• 950,000 square feet of commercial space
• 100,000 square feet of convention center space
• 150,000 square feet of mini-storage warehouse
• 352 hotel rooms with up to two hotels
• 2 retention ponds
• 1 food hall
• 1 playground area

RELATED:  11 things to know about Mount Dora's proposed AMCO Development

High-density development in Mount Dora has long been a hot topic and the character of the City’s eastern side could be decided at the upcoming June 4th public hearing. Four members of the council, which includes the mayor, would be needed to vote in favor of the PUD ordinance, in order to pass the proposed 38-acre development.

ABOVE: Current Amco Development plan. Click to enlarge. More details in the downloadable files below.

Members of the public are welcome to speak in favor or opposition of the topic at the final hearing before the Mount Dora City Council.  The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4 and will be held at City Hall located at 510 N. Baker Street in downtown Mount Dora.

amco_final_pud_plan_for_6-2_hearing.pdf
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ordinance_for_amco_pud_-_2023-04_mdmu_05-29-24__final_2_rev_.docx
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