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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 10 08 Reports Commissioner Rick Brown Date: October 8, 2007 The attached was referenced by Commissioner Rick Brown, for the Record, during "Reports" at the October 8, 2007 City Commission Regular Meeting. Andrea Lorenzo-Iuaces Subject: Abe Aboraya [abeaboraya@gmail.com] Monday, October 08, 2007 3:40 PM John F. Bush; Robert Miller; Rick Brown; donglmore@cfl.rr.com; Sally McGinnis; Joanne Krebs Oviedo and Black Hammock From: Sent: To: Attachments: Black Hammock Letter.doc Black Hammock Letter.doc (2 MB... . . Mayor and ComnllsslOner, This is Abe Aboraya with the Chronicle. We've had this letter that I've attached below on the Web site since Friday and Michelle wants to do a follow-up piece in Thursday's paper. The letter is attacking Winter Springs as a whole, although not so much the mayor specifically this time. I wanted to let you guys know what's going on. I'm available any time if any of you would like to comment on the letter or on Oviedo or if you want to issue a response that details everything Winter Springs has done to preserve the Black Hammock. My cell is the easiest way to reach me; the number is 321-750-9336. I'm available before and after the meeting. If I miss the call, I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Abe Aboraya Seminole Chronicle Office: 407-447-4557 Fax: 407-447-4556 Cell: 321-750-9336 1 CITY OF OVIEDO FLORIDA 400 ALEXANDRIA BOULEVARD. OVIEDO, FLORIDA 32765. (407) 971-5555 www.citvofoviedo.net October 4, 2007 The Honorable Mayor John Bush Commissioner Rick Brown Commissioner Sally McGinnis Commissioner Robert S. Miller Commissioner Donald A. Gilmore Commissioner Joanne M. Krebs City of Winter Springs 1126 East State Road 434 Winter Springs, FL 32708 Subject: Black Hammock Dear Mayor Bush and Members of the Commission: Councilman Keith Britton had the opportunity to attend the recent meeting of the Black Hammock Association where Mayor Bush, Commissioner Brown and Commissioner Krebs were also in attendance. We had the opportunity to hear a report from Councilman Britton on Monday evening, October 1 st and we wish to take this opportunity to share our collective thoughts about the Black Hammock. At the meeting of the Black Hammock Association last week, the City of Oviedo's commitment to protect the Black Hammock was questioned and the City of Oviedo was challenged to keep the Hammock rural. There appears to be a perception on the part of your Mayor, and perhaps others, that the City of Oviedo has altered its long standing policy toward the potential development of the Black Hammock. While some may wish to employ the tools of rhetoric and selective recollection to re-write history, the City of Oviedo wishes to remind all participants in this debate of the City of Oviedo's consistent policy and its le2:ally bindin2: actions to fulfill its pledge to protect the rural nature of the area along Lake Jessup. Let us state unequivocally that the City of Oviedo has no intention of developing the Black Hammock. This City Council will maintain the protections that have been established in two successive Joint Planning Agreements with Seminole County, and in our adopted Comprehensive Plan. In spite of the rhetorical challenges offered in an emotionally charged session last week, we wish to remind you of the actions that the Oviedo City Council has taken to protect the Black Hammock: . Six years ago, when the City of Winter Springs was expanding its high density residential developments east of SR 417, the Oviedo City Council adopted a Resolution protecting the rural character of the Black Hammock. This resolution's language was also adopted as an amendment to the City's Comprehensive Plan and remains the adopted policy in our Comprehensive Plan today. 1 . The City entered into a Joint Planning Agreement (JP A) with Seminole County on September 28, 1999. That term of that original agreement was extended twice to allow adequate time to prepare a successor agreement to protect the rural area adjacent to our City. During that time, the City of Winter Springs developed higher density residential developments along SR 434, just west of Deleon Street in the Hammock. . An amendment to the County's Charter was adopted in 2004, establishing a Rural Area Boundary in the Hammock. The Oviedo City Council took formal action to support the Urban-Rural Charter amendment, in keeping with its consistent policy to protect the Hammock from higher density residential development. At the same time, the City of Winter Springs filed a lawsuit against Seminole County's Charter amendment effort. . On October 2, 2006, the JP A with Seminole County was renewed, establishing clear guidelines for designated transition areas and providing for density designations consistent with the spirit of the Urban Rural charter amendment; a copy is attached. . Earlier this year, the Oviedo City Council adopted amendments to the City's Comprehensive Plan to incorporate the revised JP A and associated policies addressing the provisions of that agreement. At the Black Hammock Association meeting last month, a three (3) party JPA was proposed by the Association, ostensibly to induce Oviedo and the County to protect the Hammock. The City of Oviedo has had such an agreement with the County in effect for the past 8 years! Our actions were taken then and have been consistently reinforced by subsequent City Councils. During that eight year period, the City of Winter Springs has not entered into a JP A with the County. Challenges offered at high energy community group meetings may make for good headlines, but they cannot compare with the ACflONS taken by both the Oviedo City Council and the Board of County Commissioners to protect the Hammock and to respond to the heartfelt concerns of its residents. The actions taken by the City of Winter Springs included the annexation (~f Battle Ridge area, a prime example of your City's policy intentions. The City of Oviedo stands by its binding agreements to protect the rural nature of the Black Hammock. This Council is committed to keeping rural eastern Seminole County a rural area. Suggestions in a report for light industrial development in the Black Hammock made by the Economic Development Task Force, were just that, suggestions. This is not a goal of this City Counci 1. We encourage the City ofWintcT Springs to follow Oviedo's lead in executing a JPA with Seminole County and amending its Comprehensive Plan to incorporate the provisions of that agreement in its Comprehensive Plan. Only then can the residents of the Black Hammock be assured that the rural nature of the area will truly be protected from encroachment by development. Respectfully, ,-Mayor Tom Walters Deputy Mayor Dominic Persampiere Councilman Steve Henken Councilman Keith Britton Councilman Stephen Schenck 2 Cc: Board of County Commissioners Seminole Chronicle Oviedo Voice Orlando Sentinel Cindy Coto, County Manager Ron McLemore, City Manager 3