The following is a letter I sent today to our City Council. If you too feel saddened and maddened by the chopping up of our district, please write to them!
Orlando City Council
400 South Orange Ave.
Orlando, FL 32802
Dear Mayor and Council Members;
As a resident of Lake Eola Heights, I am distraught over the way we as citizens are left completely out of the zoning process. Here?’s my story.
Last summer I learned that the property next door to me (603 East Concord Street) was sold to a developer and that he intended to have the lot divided into three 50 by 100 foot lots. I began watching the Municipal Planning Board meeting agendas for an indication of when this was to be reviewed for a plat change. It appeared on their calendar for the November 21, 2006 meeting. I hand-delivered a letter to Jennifer Moreau on Friday, November 17, 2006 indicating that I was vehemently against this and wanted to speak against it at the meeting on Tuesday. I scheduled a half day off of work so I could attend the meeting. She called on Monday November 20 and said that the developer, Lazarus, had not completed his paperwork timely and so had been withdrawn from the agenda but that I would not be allowed to speak at the meeting anyway!
I have been watching their calendar ever since expecting to see this on their agenda again, but it never did. I called this week to find out the status (as he went to the Historic Preservation Board with designs last week) and was told to my dismay that you approved it on February 5, 2007. There was no notice posted on the property, no notice mailed to residents in the area and no inclusion of the residents in a rezoning that is opposed by a vast majority of residents in Lake Eola Heights!
We love our district. We love the feeling of ?“Old Florida?” you get when you walk its tree-lined, brick streets. We love all the variety of residents and the people old and young. We believe the best way to keep the historic district historic is to retain that feel. Replacing 2 small duplexes with three McMansions and three garage apartments onto a piece of 100 by 150 foot property is NOT in keeping with this district.
This lot should not have been divided into anything smaller than two 50 by 150 foot lots. It is one of the most beautiful lots in the district with towering oak trees ?– only 3 of 5 were listed to be saved ?– and in his first design to the Historic Preservation Board that is all that he is proposing to save. Two lots would also be in keeping with the other lots along the north side of Concord Street all of which are between 140 and 200 feet deep.
This is yet another scar on the landscape of the historic district. We understand that infill is inevitable, but it should not be to the detriment of the district. Please, we were made a Nationally Registered Historic District because of our Architecture, Community Planning and Development, please don?’t destroy that.
Sincerely;
Mrs. Carolyn Burleson-Webb
611 E. Concord Street
Orlando, FL 32803
Orlando City Council
400 South Orange Ave.
Orlando, FL 32802
Dear Mayor and Council Members;
As a resident of Lake Eola Heights, I am distraught over the way we as citizens are left completely out of the zoning process. Here?’s my story.
Last summer I learned that the property next door to me (603 East Concord Street) was sold to a developer and that he intended to have the lot divided into three 50 by 100 foot lots. I began watching the Municipal Planning Board meeting agendas for an indication of when this was to be reviewed for a plat change. It appeared on their calendar for the November 21, 2006 meeting. I hand-delivered a letter to Jennifer Moreau on Friday, November 17, 2006 indicating that I was vehemently against this and wanted to speak against it at the meeting on Tuesday. I scheduled a half day off of work so I could attend the meeting. She called on Monday November 20 and said that the developer, Lazarus, had not completed his paperwork timely and so had been withdrawn from the agenda but that I would not be allowed to speak at the meeting anyway!
I have been watching their calendar ever since expecting to see this on their agenda again, but it never did. I called this week to find out the status (as he went to the Historic Preservation Board with designs last week) and was told to my dismay that you approved it on February 5, 2007. There was no notice posted on the property, no notice mailed to residents in the area and no inclusion of the residents in a rezoning that is opposed by a vast majority of residents in Lake Eola Heights!
We love our district. We love the feeling of ?“Old Florida?” you get when you walk its tree-lined, brick streets. We love all the variety of residents and the people old and young. We believe the best way to keep the historic district historic is to retain that feel. Replacing 2 small duplexes with three McMansions and three garage apartments onto a piece of 100 by 150 foot property is NOT in keeping with this district.
This lot should not have been divided into anything smaller than two 50 by 150 foot lots. It is one of the most beautiful lots in the district with towering oak trees ?– only 3 of 5 were listed to be saved ?– and in his first design to the Historic Preservation Board that is all that he is proposing to save. Two lots would also be in keeping with the other lots along the north side of Concord Street all of which are between 140 and 200 feet deep.
This is yet another scar on the landscape of the historic district. We understand that infill is inevitable, but it should not be to the detriment of the district. Please, we were made a Nationally Registered Historic District because of our Architecture, Community Planning and Development, please don?’t destroy that.
Sincerely;
Mrs. Carolyn Burleson-Webb
611 E. Concord Street
Orlando, FL 32803
