Article updated Feb. 17 to reflect result of Mount Dora Planning & Zoning meeting.

Change may be coming.  Previous efforts to transform historic downtown Mount Dora with significantly higher building heights is an issue that has ruffled more than a few feathers in the past.  Now the previously hotly-contested issue has quietly resurfaced again at the same time COVID-19 has some residents wary on attending the public meetings.   

On February 17, Mount Dora Planning & Zoning Commission (P & Z) asked City staff to prepare an ordinance that includes raising downtown's building height limit from the current 35 feet to 55 feet in order to accommodate developers. The ordinance is scheduled to be discussed at the April 21st P & Z public meeting at 10 a.m. at City Hall.  The ordinance would also include increasing the building heights on Highland Street's commercial district.   The commission tentatively plans to vote on the increase at its May 19th meeting at 10 a.m.  

For perspective on the proposed increase, Mount Dora’s landmark Renaissance Building, the most visible building on the city’s main downtown street, is 35 feet tall, according to City documents.  The gray building is three stories tall, plus a basement.  That building is 20 feet under what P & Z is considering.  The proposed changes would increase building heights within 100 feet of Lake Dora from 25 feet to 35 feet (the height of the Renaissance Building).  

The proposed 57% height increase could affect the size of any new development on the vacant lot on the corner of 5th Avenue and McDonald Street, as well as Pineapple Point, the 4.3 wooded lakefront land adjacent to the Lakeside Inn, providing the buildings were 100 feet from the lakefront.   The 20-foot increase could also make it more profitable for developers to tear down some existing properties in order to build potentially bigger and more lucrative projects, however increasing building heights throughout downtown isn't necessary to build a new parking garage.   

The City’s newest council member, Austin Guenther, works for G3 Development, his family’s commercial real estate development business which owns commercial properties that could benefit by the height increase.   According to G3's website, the councilman is tasked with the company’s business development. G3's ownership also has a stake in Pineapple Point, the undevelopment waterfront acreage next to Lakeside Inn.   

Mount Dora “has a unique sense of character and charm that is unrivaled in the region, and that character and charm are a critical component to the economic well-being and success of the city,” stated a January 2021 report on increasing Mount Dora’s building heights by Renaissance Planning, a consulting firm hired by the City of Mount Dora.  Increasing building heights can also impact traffic, parking, and utility systems, as well as public safety due to limitations of fire equipment and the loading and unloading of delivery trucks, cited the same report. 

On the flip side, to changing downtown Mount Dora’s vibe with taller buildings can potentially bring in new residents that spend money and attract new businesses.  However, the significant number of vacant buildings downtown signals there currently isn't a shortage of space for new businesses.  The current 35-foot height restrictions have been in place long before speculative developers purchased downtown properties, so the height limits do not unfairly shackle them.

Nearby Winter Garden is heralded as a model city which successfully preserved its historic charm while welcoming responsible new downtown development, including residential units.  That Central Florida city strictly adheres to development rules that prohibits buildings taller than three stories and ensures new building designs fit in with and complement Winter Garden's historic downtown. The thriving city has turned away developers seeking to build five- and six-story buildings in the area, yet its quaint downtown is vibrant.  The only exception to the three-story height limit in all of Winter Garden is a six-story hospital outside of the historic area.  The city's large downtown parking garage, built in 2016, is two stories tall with 3 levels of parking that includes the rooftop.

Anyone wanting to weigh in on increasing Mount Dora Building heights can attend the April 21st meeting 10 a.m. at City Hall.  Social distancing and masks are required per the City’s Resolution 2020-138.   Once the City’s P & Z Commission votes to recommend the ordinance, it will then go before the City Council for a hearing and vote.   

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here.  Discover the area's online event calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.  ​

By Marc Crail
Mount Dora City Council, District 4 Representative
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Mount Dora City Council met for a regular meeting this evening. I've pick out a few action or discussion items to include in this report. Please keep in mind that I'm reporting from my own perspective and on on behalf of Mount Dora City Council.

I've told you before that we need to make necessary and expensive renovations to our Wastewater Plant #1 that is now over 40 years old. Tonight we unanimously passed a resolution to take about $10,250,000 out a State revolving loan to make those improvements. The interest of the loan is super low, fixed at 0.02% for 20 years. We have also received a $1,5 million grant from St. Johns River Management District to put toward the approximately $11,742,000 estimated price tag. This project will not only increase our wastewater treatment capacity, it will replace our current 40 year old facility, add state of the art Bio. Nutrient Removal and get us in compliance with all current EPA standards. We've been planning for this project for a few years now and moving forward will not require rate increases.

The Mount Dora Center for the Arts Festival will be held this coming weekend February 6 and 7 from 9:00-5:00. The festival will look different this year with 130 exhibitors rather than about 300 in past years. The booths will be placed 10' apart. Masks are required. No eating food or drinks will be allowed outside of designated food court areas. The Center for the Arts is working hard to put on an event that is as safe as possible.

On the vaccine front, today the site at St. Patrick Church administered 1,084 second doses of Pfizer vaccine by appointment. Thus far the St. Pats location has handled about 12,000 first and most recently second doses. DOH-Lake is in charge and they have been a good partner. Kudos to St. Patrick Church for offering their campus, Mount Dora Fire Department, Mount Dora, Tavares and Eustis Police Departments and a host of volunteers and contributors who have made this local effort successful. Last Friday a new program called P.O.D. (Point Of Delivery) took 125 doses out to apartment complexes and mobile home parks for homebound residents. We're hopeful that in upcoming weeks they can also administer shots at local churches and in more Mount Dora neighborhoods if vaccine supplies allow. We are making steady progress.

I came away from this meeting feeling positive and grateful for the hard work of our staff and proud of our efforts to work together and make partnerships. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your City Council.

Our quote today is from Oprah Winfrey; "In the end God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars".

By Marc Crail
Mount Dora City Council, District 4 Representative

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here.  Discover the area's online event calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.  

By Marc Crail
District 4 Mount Dora City Council Representative

Our January 19th City Council meeting was relatively brief, about 2 hours long. We will also have Work Session from 10:00-4:00 on Thursday 1/21. I've selected several items from our discussions and agenda to tell you about. Please remember that I'm not representing Mount Dora City Council when reporting to you. I'm just doing so as an individual.

We heard a report on on the ongoing COVID-19 immunizations that are being provided at St. Patrick Church. First, some background information; we approached the Lake County Health Department about hosting a vaccine location locally so our residents wouldn't need to drive to Clermont or Leesburg. Our St. Patrick location is a cooperative effort. The church has volunteered their campus which is great. Eustis, Tavares and Mount Dora each have provided police to help manage traffic. Mount Dora has had our fire/paramedics there each day along with a contingent of volunteers. We were open Monday-Thursday last week and Tuesday-Thursday this week. Immunizations begin at 11:00 but plan to arrive by 7:30 or so in order to get in line.

Each day so far we have had 600 doses of Pfizer vaccine allotted to us but by careful conservation of precious vials we have managed to stretch those 600 to about squeeze out between 650- 709 doses per day.  Last week we gave about 2,700 shots and today we gave another 709 shots bringing our total immunizations to well over 3,300. That's a good start. More options and more locations are sorely needed as are more doses of vaccine.

We are hopeful that we will be able to continue this St. Patrick program and possibly even expand our efforts to provide service to even more people by providing shots at underserved locations that may include churches, apartment complexes, condos and other residential developments. None of this is not set in stone yet but we are hopeful we can continue to expand our efforts through cooperation with our partners.

We approved 2 Resolutions today that will authorize engineering and design services for important park projects. One project will be renovations to Cauley Lot & Lilly Parks and another to do the create a brand new park/playground in cooperation with Lake County Schools on the campus of Triangle Elementary School.

Lakes of Mount Dora neighborhood residents will be seeing another Traffic Signal Warrant Study take place in February at the intersection of S.R. 44 and Lakes of Mount Dora Blvd. We can expect the results of that study by the end of March. Depending on the traffic count numbers a traffic light there might be recommended. I'll keep you posted about the results but the good news is that the City requested this study meaning that residents' concerns have been noted. We are also looking into other options for safer ingress/egress to the neighborhood including a request for the State to reduce the speed limit on S.R. 44.

The rollout of our new version of recycling is due to begin in early February. Residential Waste Management customers will be able to use both their yellow top (recycling) cans and their green top (garbage) cans for any kind of waste materials. Your pickup day will not change and you will get more information with you next "water" bill. One truck will come by your house on trash day rather than three. All trash will be incinerated to produce electricity.

Yesterday was Dr. Martin Luther King Day. I've shared quotes by Rev. King with you before but today I'd like to give you a quote about Dr. King provided by Bob Woodson. "We honor King not for his victories that are incomplete. We honor him for his vision and his sacrificial commitment to that vision. He saw what we might be capable of as an individual and as a nation. He held it high so we could all see."

Thanks for your interest in our wonderful City.

By Marc Crail
District 4 Mount Dora City Council Representative

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here.  Discover the area's online event calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.  ​

A new drive-through COVID-19 vaccination site will be open January 12  through 14 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church located half a mile south of the City of Mount Dora.  The free vaccines are available to people 65 years old and older, as well as to  front line workers on a first-come, first-served basis.  There is no residency requirement and no appointments are currently available.  Appointments are expected to be available for the second dose.

DOH-Lake is anticipating to have approximately 550 to 750 doses available each day at the Mount Dora area site and will administer vaccines while supplies last for each day.  The site will be open this week at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and will remain open until the vaccine supply for that day is administered.

The church campus is large enough to hold the number of vehicles for the amount of vaccines available and then the entrance will be closed.  A one to two-and-a-half hour wait in a line should be expected.  Face masks are required to be worn in cars.  

St. Patrick’s Church is located at 6803 Old U.S. Highway 441 in Orange County.  Further scheduling will be listed on Lake.FloridaHealth.gov and MountDoraBuzz.com .

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here.  Discover the area's online event calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.  ​

​Beginning on Wednesday, December 30, the Florida Department of Health in Lake County (DOH-Lake) will begin offering free COVID-19 immunizations to high-risk frontline health care workers and residents 65 and older.

Appointments are required for the two locations available .
Vaccination sites and schedules for Wednesday, December 30, 2020 through Saturday January 2, 2021 are as follows:

LAKE SUMTER STATE COLLEGE
9501 US-441 in Leesburg
9:00am to 4:00 pm based on availability

COOPER MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2525 Oakley Seaver Drive in Clermont
9:00am to 4:00 pm based on availability

Lake County residents must register to an immunization appointment by calling (352) 742-4830 Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Likely due to a high demand, callers were experiencing a difficult time getting through by phone today.

Residents must bring identification to their appointment and healthcare workers must bring a copy of their medical license, ID badge or a current pay stub. There may be an opportunity for walk-ins based on cancellations and availability of appointments.

As per Governor Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order 20-315, the first phase of vaccinations will be for long-term care facility residents and staff, persons 65 years of age and older, and
healthcare personnel with direct patient contact

As of this afternoon all DOH-Lake Covid-19 Testing Sites will be by appointment only in order to meet vaccination demand. Call (352) 272-9284 for a DOH-Lake testing appointment or schedule a free PCR test with CVS or Curative Labs, or call your private healthcare provider.

Enjoy!  And please remember, don’t drink and drive.  Happy Holidays!  For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here.  Discover the area's online event calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.  ​

Lake County’s hospitals began receiving vaccines last week to immunize their healthcare workers. Approximately 3,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine arrived in Lake County today.  

The Florida Department of Health plans to visit the facilities that are not covered by the Walgreens and CVS immunization roll-out so that residents and staff can be immunized as quickly as possible.

In an Executive Order issued Dec. 23, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has directed that the priority population for this initial phase shall be long-term care facility residents and staff, persons 65 years and older, and health care personnel with direct patient contact.

Currently, Lake County doesn't have a registry available to sign up.. Once vaccines become available, the County will  provide more details on the distribution process.

For the foreseeable future, Lake County will receive an unspecified amount of vaccines to immunize the priority groups as identified by the governor. The Federal government’s goal has been to get vaccines to the general public through commercial providers (pharmacies and physicians) as soon as they become available.

Lake County Office of Emergency Management has worked closely with the Florida Department of Health in Lake County to prepare for the expected immunization doses, including preparing storage infrastructure by purchasing an ultra-cold freezer.

When more information is available from the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Health, Lake County will inform the public and Mount Dora Buzz will update its information. To sign up for the latest emergency notifications regarding COVID-19, text COVIDUPDATE to 888777.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here.  Discover the area's online event calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.  ​