MOUNT DORA — Described by residents and visitors as “charming” and “quaint,” Mount Dora needs to be protected, several residents say.
And they say a proposal to allow 50-foot-tall screens at the EPIC Theatres location off U.S. Highway 441 between Target and Wal-Mart could usher in development of taller buildings in the downtown commercial area. The slew of concerns, along with other issues, prompted a meeting Monday night at the Mount Dora Community Building that drew a crowd of 237, according to Tom Eppich, who said a head count was taken at the meeting. City officials estimated about 200 in attendance.
“It’s [Mount Dora] someplace special,” said Amy Fortenberry, who has lived in the city for 11 years. “I know they want to build things, but I want them to keep the historical integrity ….”