Winter Springs blocks more apartments at Town Center

The Winter Springs City Commission Monday blocked the development of apartments on an undeveloped parcel at the Winter Springs Town Center. 

Catalyst Development Partners had proposed a $50 million mixed-use development on the 8-acre parcel, with 162 apartments in two buildings. There was just one problem: The previous development order forbids apartments on the parcel. 

So the developer came back to the City Commission to ask them to allow apartments. The developer said without more residents in the area, they can’t attract higher end commercial, beyond things like gas stations and car washes.

“Our goal is to have a quick-service restaurant there, a breakfast restaurant,” said former Winter Springs Mayor Paul Partyka, who represents the land for NAI Realvest. “I actually talked to First Watch to potentially come here.”

But some residents don’t want to see more apartments in Winter Springs. Gina Shafer is a city resident and a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission. She said the developer agreeing to keep one oak tree on State Road 434 wasn’t enough of a concession to approve more apartments. 

“My neighbors and I were told by the city that after The Blake was approved, there would be no more apartments,” Shafer said. “Why do we have a [comprehensive] plan if we’re always granting conditional use permits? … I don’t want this place to look like Altamonte Springs. If we continue this path, I’m afraid it will be.”

Winter Springs Mayor Kevin McCann, who only votes when there’s a tie during the City Commission meetings, said The General Public House in the Winter Springs Town Center recently closed.

It may reopen, he added. But: 

“We need residents,” McCann said. “Again, I’m not coming out for this. But until we have the residents, we’re not gonna support anything but McDonalds and Starbucks. And it took us a while to get Starbucks.” 

In an interview with Oviedo Community News, City Commissioner Cade Resnick said he’s not a fan of adding more rooftops in Winter Springs. But he was swayed because of the success of Oviedo on the Park.

“We need the rooftops to bring in the commercial,” Resnick said. “I’m not a fan of the rooftops.”

Resnick made the motion to allow city staff to begin to negotiate on the conditional use permit for the apartments. But when the mayor asked for a second, the room fell silent. 

“Not hearing one,” McCann said. “If there is not a second, it won’t even come up for a vote. Last call for a second, so it can come to a vote?”

The rest of the City Commissioners stayed mum. 

“It appears a decision has been made,” McCann said. 

In an interview after the meeting, former mayor Partyka said he isn’t done trying to get the city to approve more apartments. He said he hopes to come back on a future agenda.

“I just don’t understand why the Commission didn’t even take action,” Partyka said. “I think they didn’t understand the issue. We’re working on getting this back on the agenda.”