Perhaps it was inevitable the Orlando City Council would give the nod to the Post Lake at Baldwin Park Phase III project, nonetheless, almost all Baldwin Park residents who addressed the council yesterday raised several concerns surrounding the development. Commissioner Diamond (District 1) was the lone commissioner who voted nay.
Diamond said he voted against the $58 million-dollar development because the city was reneging on its commitment regarding the percentage of owner-occupied versus rental units, a major issue on the part of Baldwin Park residents.
An ordinance dating back to 1998 stipulates development in Baldwin Park should be 60 percent owner-occupied and 40 percent rental units, which the city is ignoring, Diamond said.
“I support good development, that’s for sure,” he said. “But I also feel if the city makes a commitment to a neighborhood, then I think the city ought to try to keep that commitment.”
Although the city had previously approved the Baldwin Park Phase 111 project in 2008, Diamond said the issue of the 60/40 split, contained in the ordinance had never really been dealt with. Like others commissioners, he said he was unaware of the stipulation until recently.
“People bought homes in Baldwin Park with the understanding that development would be reviewed and proceed in a particular way; the split was clearly set out in the ordinance,” he said. “There was never any kind of public hearing on that, never any kind of public decision and I think its wrong to change the rules of the game in the middle of the road.”
According to one Baldwin Park resident, Barbara Tinsley who testified before the commission Monday, the city’s website shows 37 percent owner and 56 percent rentals units in the community.
The Post Lake at Baldwin Park Phase 111 project entails the construction of 410 multifamily dwelling units, including a mix of one, two and three bedroom units.
While city staff assured the changes being sought by Post developers are consistent with the overall development plan for the area, Baldwin Park residents raised several issues relating to, degradation of Lake Susannah owing to population increase, lake front setback encroachments, building architecture, traffic congestion, among others.
