Plans to create a 350-acre mixed-use community in Apopka are in the works

Several property owners in Apopka are working with a developer to create a large mixed-use district northwest of the privately-owned Orlando Apopka Airport.

Next week, Apopka city council members are considering a Large Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment to change the future land use of about 350 acres from County Rural to City Mixed-Use North Shore District.

Nearly a dozen parcels located west of N. Orange Blossom Trail and north of Hogshead Road are being assembled in order to established the North Shore District designation. They were annexed into the city last year and abut a nature preserve on the north shore of Lake Apopka.

Under the existing land use, the maximum development achievable on the land allows for only one dwelling unit per every 10 acres. The proposed land use would allow for a maximum of 500 residential dwelling units, more than 15 million square feet of non-residential uses, or a combination of the two.

Apopka Community Development Director James “Jim” Hitt told GrowthSpotter project representatives and planners have shown interest in developing up to 500 residential units to the south and more than 6 million square feet of industrial and commercial space to the north.

No conceptual site plan or master plan has been filed with the city yet. The developer behind the project is not listed in city records obtained by GrowthSpotter.

Poulos & Bennett planning group leader Kathy Hattaway is listed as the applicant representing the property owners: American Sanford Four LLC, Steven R. Rubright, JP Holdings Inc., Rubright Properties LLC, Rubright Family LP, JP Holdings Inc and James Scott Pridgen, Douglas & Lisa Surrett & James P. Purdy.

Warren David Rubright, one of those property owners, is the largest stakeholders with 225 acres at 4670 W. Orange Blossom Trail. Rubright declined to comment on the story citing a non-disclosure agreement with the unnamed developer.

The first reading of the ordinance and transmittal to the Florida Department of Economic Development go before Apopka’s City Council Feb. 19.

The city has seen a large amount of development activity.

City records show more than 5,785 dwelling units and 3.68 million square feet of non-residential developments are currently underway in Apopka.

Last month, GrowthSpotter reported of plans for a 282-lot subdivision called Park View Preserve near the Wekiva Parkway, and a 101-lot subdivision called Windward Hills along Orange Blossom Trail.

Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at arabines@GrowthSpotter.com or (407) 420-5427, or tweet me at @amanda_rabines. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.