County creates redevelopment area in Mount Plymouth-Sorrento
As seen in the Orlando Sentinel
TAVARES — For more than a decade, residents and businesses have fought for a “redevelopment” designation in the Mount Plymouth-Sorrento area. County commissioners finally granted their wish this week, despite opposition from some residents who were concerned it would bring more growth and ruin their rural lifestyles.
Commission Chair Leslie Campione led the most recent effort to create the redevelopment area, which will get a portion of tax revenue generated by growth and increasing property values within its boundaries.
She said the designation could help attract more businesses and stabilize the rural community in east Lake as it braces for the arrival of the Wekiva Parkway. The expressway will divert traffic from State Road 46, which runs through the heart of its business corridor, Campione explained.
“Instead of being reactive, let’s be proactive. There will be greater challenges in that area” in the future, she said in an interview. “It could be used as a great tool to preserve the character of the area.”
Commissioners will oversee the agency, although they will appoint seven residents and local businesses owners to the newly created advisory committee. The commission hasn’t discussed where the money will go, but it could be used for public parks, streetlights and other improvements, county officials said.
It will be the county’s first redevelopment district in unincorporated Lake, though several cities have used the districts to spruce up their downtown corridors.
In 2009, the East Lake Citizens Council urged commissioners to create a redevelopment area in Mount Plymouth-Sorrento, but the idea was rejected.
This time, all but one commissioner — Jimmy Conner — supported the designation. The commissioners approved a finding of necessity that outlines the “blighted” conditions that the state requires to justify the redevelopment area. Conner questioned how much money could be generated at a time when property values continue to fall.
“I’m concerned this isn’t going to achieve the desired goal because there isn’t going to be enough money — at least for the next several years,” Conner said during the meeting.
Campione initially wanted to include the closed Mount Plymouth golf course in the district. It was dropped after numerous complaints from residents.
Helen McCormick was among those who opposed the inclusion of the golf course, which she lives near. She continued to oppose the designation because she said it doesn’t focus enough on the S.R. 46 business corridor, which she acknowledged would benefit from the redevelopment designation.
The district covers more than 1,200 acres. Six percent of that is occupied commercial area, and 78 percent of it is residential.
“I don’t think it should include so much,” McCormick said.