MOUNT DORA BUZZ
  • Home
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Business & Real Estate
    • Outdoor Life
    • Real Estate Buzz
    • Government & Education
    • Profiles
    • Newsworthy
    • What's Hot...
    • Development Buzz
    • Who Knew?
    • Buzz Polls
  • Calendar
  • Festivals & Events
    • Annual Festivals
    • Monthly Events
    • Fall Festivals & Halloween Events
    • Best Local Pumpkin Patches
    • Holiday Event Guide
    • Mount Dora Community Toy Drive
  • The Best of....
    • Best of Mount Dora
    • Best of Eustis
    • Best of Tavares
    • Best of Mount Dora Take-out
  • Things to Do
  • Dining
  • Live Music
  • Lodging
  • Photos
    • Doors of Mount Dora
    • City Scenes
    • Colorful Cottages of Mount Dora
    • Holiday Lights
    • Views from Above
    • Palm Island Boardwalk
    • July 4th Americana
    • Vintage Photos
    • Donnelly House
    • Sydonie Mansion
    • The Howey Mansion
  • History
  • Mobile App
  • Contact
    • News Desk
    • Advertising Inquiries
    • Writing Services & Content Marketing
    • Design Services
    • Social Media Services
    • Suggest a Restaurant Visit
    • Submit Pic of the Day
  • Subscribe

Government & Education

MOUNT DORA PETITION CIRCULATES TO PRESERVE DOWNTOWN BUILDING HEIGHTS

5/17/2021

 
Picture
ABOVE: A resident signs the petition at Crissy Stile's (left) store in downtown Mount Dora.
It’s certainly a hot topic and one that some residents thought was put to bed years ago. Now, a recent move by some members of the City’s Planning & Zoning Commission (P & Z) has reignited a the old and controversial issue of increasing downtown building heights to 55 feet from 35 feet.  The City Council has already given final approval to allow a larger parking structure, so the garage is not included in the petition.

After vocal residents expressed themselves at the well-attended April P & Z meeting and on social media, many suggested a petition be started to preserve downtown’s unique character and prohibit 55-foot buildings in that area.   Last week, Mount Dora resident Crissy Stile answered that call.   Stile, along with other residents and business owners, is now circulating a petition that encourages P & Z members and the City Council to forgo allowing 55-foot buildings in the city’s downtown, an area which relies heavily on visitors drawn to the district’s historic charm.  

“Addressing the parking shortage is a priority,” said Stile, a former Mount Dora City Council Member.  “The key to downtown’s economic sustainability is also expanding its busy season by focusing on visitors and locals and attracting younger demographics.”  

The city has recently hosted more small events in the various downtown parks that allow for streets to remain open. Stile believes those events are the perfect draw for families, including locals and visitors.  “Parks, enhanced recreation amenities like Rails-to-Trails, and good schools will attract a younger demographic and improve residents' quality of life.  Taller buildings aren’t the answer,” said Stiles. 

Not everyone agrees.  G3 Development (G3), along with some members of P & Z, have touted the need for increased heights to attract downtown development.  However, the large amount of vacant commercial space and recent subsidies downtown indicate there may not be a demand for more space.   Buildings on prime downtown locations have been vacant for years and even decades.  And in 2018, the Mount Dora City Council approved an approximate $30,000 taxpayer-funded subsidy related to the Sunset Building, owned by G3.  Prior to the tax-abatement subsidy, the three-story building had a history of spotty occupancy.  

Whether by ordinance or strict architectural design standards, similar towns in Florida that attract visitors to their historic downtowns don’t allow 55-foot new buildings, but rather limit heights to approximately 35 to 45 feet, depending on their location.

During the May 19 meeting, the P & Z Commission will likely vote whether to pass its controversial increase to downtown building heights.   If it passes,  the ordinance would then go before Mount Dora City Council which could vote on it, table it, or put it on the ballot for residents to decide.  The public Planning and Zoning meeting will take place at City Hall at 501 N. Baker Street in Mount Dora beginning at 10 a.m. on May 19.

The petition is available for signing at Barrel of Books & Games at 128 E. 4th Avenue in downtown Mount Dora from noon to 5pm.   An online petition is available here.

Follow Mount Dora Buzz on Instagram.  For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  ​​

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    April 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Terms of Use
Copyright Mount Dora Buzz 2022
​All rights reserved.



  • Home
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Business & Real Estate
    • Outdoor Life
    • Real Estate Buzz
    • Government & Education
    • Profiles
    • Newsworthy
    • What's Hot...
    • Development Buzz
    • Who Knew?
    • Buzz Polls
  • Calendar
  • Festivals & Events
    • Annual Festivals
    • Monthly Events
    • Fall Festivals & Halloween Events
    • Best Local Pumpkin Patches
    • Holiday Event Guide
    • Mount Dora Community Toy Drive
  • The Best of....
    • Best of Mount Dora
    • Best of Eustis
    • Best of Tavares
    • Best of Mount Dora Take-out
  • Things to Do
  • Dining
  • Live Music
  • Lodging
  • Photos
    • Doors of Mount Dora
    • City Scenes
    • Colorful Cottages of Mount Dora
    • Holiday Lights
    • Views from Above
    • Palm Island Boardwalk
    • July 4th Americana
    • Vintage Photos
    • Donnelly House
    • Sydonie Mansion
    • The Howey Mansion
  • History
  • Mobile App
  • Contact
    • News Desk
    • Advertising Inquiries
    • Writing Services & Content Marketing
    • Design Services
    • Social Media Services
    • Suggest a Restaurant Visit
    • Submit Pic of the Day
  • Subscribe