Orlando Council Update
Shadowridge Industrial — Ordinance 2026-4 Adopted (FLU + Rezone to I-G)
Council adopted Ordinance 2026-4 on second reading 7-0 (Ortiz / Sheehan), changing the Future Land Use designation from Neighborhood Activity Center to Industrial and rezoning from Neighborhood Activity Center w/ Aircraft Noise Overlay (AC-N/AN) to General Industrial w/ Aircraft Noise Overlay (I-G/AN). Cases GMP2025-10019 and ZON2025-10011. Subject site is the ±11.7-acre vacant corner at 5300 Lee Vista Blvd. (PIDs 21-23-30-0000-00-066 and -00-013), south of Lee Vista Blvd., east of Shadowridge Dr., north of Butler National Dr., west of Shoalcreek Dr. (District 2). Owner: Famlee Investment Co.; applicant: Garth Ritter, Ritter Civil. The companion Master Plan (MPL2025-10064) approves three speculative flex/warehouse buildings totaling 155,820 SF (36,040 / 50,440 / 69,340 SF) with 211 parking spaces and a full-access median opening on Shadowridge Dr.; ITE-based trip generation of 215 daily trips (~32% truck). Project Planner: Raquel Lozano. Council previously approved the underlying MPB action on Feb 23, 2026.
Downtown Outlook Part III 2026 CRA Plan Amendment & Trust Fund Ordinance 2026-7 — Adopted, 47-Acre Camping World Stadium Expansion
On April 6 the CRA Board approved the Finding of Necessity / Blight Resolution, the DTO Outlook – Part III 2026 Plan Amendment, and the proposed Trust Fund Ordinance Amendment, all unanimously 7-0 (Rose / Sheehan motions; documentary #2604064d, e, f). Council then sat as the City Council and adopted both companion resolutions 7-0 (blight finding 9.a, Chapin / Rose; CRA Plan Amendment 9.b, Sheehan / Rose; documentary #2604069a-b). The Plan Amendment adds an approximately 47-acre Expansion Area adjacent to Camping World Stadium to the Downtown Orlando CRA. Ordinance 2026-7 (first reading 4/6, second reading 4/20) amends the Downtown CRA Trust Fund Ordinance — originally enacted in 1982 and amended in 1990, 2000, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2015, and 2023 — to deposit increment revenue from the Expansion Area (anticipated to be $0 because the expansion-area land is publicly owned). Public notice published in the Orlando Sentinel on March 23, 2026; notices mailed to taxing authorities March 20, 2026. Orange County Public Schools (Sergio Ruiz, Staff Attorney III) submitted a written objection raising concerns about pooled increment revenue use, lack of funding nexus in the expansion area, and base-year fiscal impact, and requested transparency on funding sources and equitable allocation of CRA funds.
Ordinance 2026-5 Adopted — Land Development Code Updated to Match Updated Growth Management Plan
Council adopted Ordinance 2026-5 on second reading 7-0 (Ortiz / Chapin), amending the Land Development Code to update references consistent with the goals, policies, objectives, and figures of the City's updated Growth Management Plan. Case LDC2025-10008 (Economic Development). Documentary #26040612c.
Heroes' Commons CRA Affordable Housing & Homelessness Funding Package — $30M+ Across Eight Projects
Workshop presentation laid out the City's coordinated funding commitments for affordable housing and homelessness response, primarily channeled through CRA and Affordable Housing/Other (AO) sources. Headline allocations: Residences at Blossom Trail — 140-unit affordable rental (14 units at 30% AMI, 106 at 60% AMI, 20 at 80% AMI), $4,000,000 City contribution covering acquisition, site remediation, demolition, and redevelopment; sale of property to developer pending. Orange Center Blvd. Development — Phase I 30 townhomes currently on hold; Phase II 90–120 affordable senior apartments approved property sale (10% at 30% AMI permanent supportive housing, 10% at 50% AMI, remainder at/below 80% AMI), $3,000,000 proposed City contribution. Housing Repair Program — roof replacements for ~60 single-family homes (23 completed) at/below 80% AMI, $1,000,000. Christian Service Center Day Center — $1,195,523 CRA capital for Fresh Start Building reconstruction + $900,000 CRA operations (3 years) + $4,000,000 AO design/construction; Central Florida's first Comprehensive Day Center. 407 Connect — two retrofitted charter buses with 21 sleeping pods each, $350,000 acquisition (AO) plus 3 years of operating support ($1.009M / $1.026M / $1.057M). Pathways Drop-In Center — $2,419,791 expansion of daytime emergency shelter. Salvation Army Men's Shelter — $2,700,000 rehabilitation + $1,000,000 client support during renovations (pending agreement). Coalition for the Homeless Women & Children's Shelter — $10,000,000 City contribution toward a 6-story replacement shelter with two floors of 32 transitional housing units (pending agreement). Homeless Services Network operations: $959,500.
2901 Corrine Drive Annexation — First Reading at Council, AC-N for Restaurant Use
MPB recommended approval on consent of the voluntary annexation, Future Land Use change, and initial zoning for 2901 Corrine Drive (PID 18-22-30-2970-02-100), a ±0.22-acre vacant parcel north of Corrine Dr., east of Janice Ave., south of Marble Ave., west of E. Winter Park Rd. (District 3, Commissioner Chapin). Cases: ANX2025-10004 (annex into Orlando), GMP2025-10022 (Orange County Commercial → City Neighborhood Activity Center), ZON2025-10013 (initial zoning AC-N). Owner: Roman Cornell, Corrine Development II, LLC; applicant: Katy Magruder, Dix.Hite + Partners. Purpose is development of a restaurant. Two public comments were received and uploaded to the MPB webpage. Project Planner: Colandra Jones. Annexation requires Orange County Charter Section 504 review (BCC public hearing, 14-day notice, interlocal agreement) before Council second reading.
Ark and Dig Dog Run — Conditional Use Permit Approved (Packing District PD, ±9.4 Acres)
Council accepted MPB Part 2 minutes including approval of CUP2026-10000, a Conditional Use Permit for a dog run pet facility within 500 ft. of a residential use/district at 1978 Stanhome Way (Packing District PD, AC-2 default zoning, District 3, ±9.4 acres). Owner: Dr. Phillips, Inc.; applicant: Adam Harbin, The Ark Orlando, LLC. Triggered by Sec. 58.896 because the small dog run sits within 500 ft. of the planned residential component of the Princeton Commons PD townhomes (proposed 2022, not yet built); the site is approximately +458 ft. from Princeton Commons and the existing townhomes to the east are over +800 ft. away. Conditions include Sec. 58.895 pet-facility compliance, no chain-link fencing (CPTED-approved aluminum/wrought iron only), and that the dog run cannot expand without further approval. Project Planner: Michele Gibbs.
Savannah Park Drive Senior Housing (78 Units, 5 Stories, ±10.3 Acres) — Deferred to April 21 MPB
Council accepted the MPB recommendation to defer Case MPL2026-10000, a Master Plan for a 5-story, 78-dwelling-unit senior housing project at 10298 Savannah Park Dr. (north of Moss Park Rd., east of Narcoossee Rd., ±10.3 acres, District 1), to the April 21, 2026 MPB meeting. Applicant: William Hockensmith, Thomas and Hutton Engineering; owner: Ln Senior Housing Re LLC.
221 South Paramore Façade Agreement — CRA Award Up to $300,000 (Inter & Co Stadium Area)
CRA Board (motion Rose / Sheehan, voice vote carried) approved a façade agreement with Orlando City Properties, LLC, for a two-story mixed-use building at 221 South Paramore (northeast corner of Paramore and Jackson St., just south of Inter & Co Stadium). Improvements include windows, paint, stucco, canopy work, and a new roof at a total cost of approximately $460,000. Because the property is in the high-incentive area, it qualifies for 80% CRA assistance, with the award capped at $300,000. The Façade Committee recommended approval at its March 18, 2026 meeting.
March 24 BZA Actions Accepted — Nine Variances Including ADU Lot-Size Relief and Pool/Setback Cases
Council accepted the actions of the March 24, 2026 Board of Zoning Adjustment, granting final City approval on a slate of nine variances, all recommended for approval by staff. Cases include: VAR2026-10010 — 879 Prim Dr. (Maximus Seale, ±1.2 ac, District 3) variance to allow an Accessory Dwelling Unit on a 7,100 SF lot where 7,700 SF minimum is required, plus parking-in-front-yard relief; VAR2026-10012 — 3414 Fairway Ln. (Michael Stevens, ±0.4 ac, District 3) 20-ft variance for a 2-story garage addition 5 ft from rear lot line where 25 ft required (4th variance on this irregular pie-shaped lot abutting a City Lift Station); VAR2026-10011 — 13858 Tybee Beach Ln. (Lake Nona PD/AN, District 1) ±2 ft variance for ±3 ft pool rear setback; VAR2026-10005 — 1314 W. Smith St. ±4.5 ft variance for pool ±5.5 ft horizontally from overhead power line; VAR2025-10053 — 1235 N. Orange Ave. (District 3) ±19 ft variance for mechanical equipment ±1 ft from rear yard property line (1925-built building); VAR2026-10006 — 1610 Curry Ford Rd. 30 ft variance for 70 ft lot frontage with semi-circular driveway on a collector road where 100 ft required; VAR2026-10013 — 712 Santa Fe Ln. (District 2) ±4 ft front-yard parking encroachment; VAR2026-10008 — 3409 Neptune Dr. (R-1AA/W/RP, District 3) +15.8 ft front-yard parking encroachment to legalize prior owner's garage-to-living-space conversion. The accepting motion is the standard consent action subject to City Attorney review.
Downtown Parking Ordinance Restructure — Council Workshop, May 11 First Reading Planned, Oct 1 Rate Effective Date
Staff presented the proposed restructuring of downtown parking rates and operations, noting the system has run at a profit for ~17 years without an increase and has paid off ~$50 million in debt service over that period. Schedule: first reading on parking ordinance changes May 11, second reading and adoption June 8, with new rates effective October 1, 2026. Discussion centered on the move toward cashless/meterless operations and signage adequacy, with Commissioner Sheehan flagging customer-confusion risk after a Lunar New Year ticketing incident in Creative Village. No vote taken; this was a workshop presentation only.