Flea World site, long since emptied, could see new development

A plan to redevelop the former Flea World site off of U.S. 17-92, less than a mile north of Winter Springs’ border, could be coming before county commissioners in the next few months.

The county previously approved a development on the site, but the death of the property owner delayed development.

 

“This is the largest redevelopment in the county in the last 30 years of any kind, because it goes to 110 acres, of which a significant portion is being preserved in perpetuity,” said Randy Morris, a former county commissioner who was representing the property owners. “The original proposal languished and then Mr. (Syd) Levy passed away. He willed it in his estate to the Boys & Girls Club, and what ensued then after his death was some litigation and some other issues.”

Now, the Seminole County Planning and Zoning Commission signed off on a plan to redevelop the site, located on the east side of 17-92, north of Ronald Reagan Boulevard. The current plan divides the site into five tracts, and would allow, in total:

• 1,003 units of multifamily housing, or apartments
• 880,000 square feet of general commercial and retail
• 275,000 square feet of professional office space
• 110,000 square feet of medical office
• 200 hotel rooms
• 200 assisted living facility beds

The plan is about one-fifth the size of a previous development plan on the site. However, Planning and Zoning Commission Member Richard Jerman said he wasn’t in favor of this project the way it was written because it’s a high-profile property. 

“Do you think you’re achieving the vision for this site?” Jerman asked. “I thought the vision was for a lot more mixed use.”

“I believe it does,” Morris replied. 

Jerman said he was happy with the apartment developer. But he wasn’t necessarily on board with allowing the developer to continue on the commercial side with everything that was allowable in code. 

“We might end up with dollar stores or who knows what on these other tracks,” Jerman said.  

Ultimately, Jerman made a motion and the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted to recommend that the Seminole County Commission approve the project – but with a unique caveat. The recommendation is that future site plans have to come back through Planning and Zoning and to the county commission for approval. 

The deputy county attorney said that is a level of review that’s above and beyond what’s already in code. 

“From a legal standpoint, what you’re asking is to add an additional level of review that doesn’t exist in your code,” said Deputy County Attorney Neysa Borkert, adding that “conceivably” the developer could agree to it. “Frankly, as far as your review goes for planned developments, that’s not something that’s within your purview to consider at this time.”

In an interview with Oviedo Community News after the planning and zoning meeting, Morris said the project is not coming to the county commission March 26, as originally planned. That’s because plans to expand utility capacity on the site are still being negotiated. 

Morris said it was fair to say the apartment part of the project was the furthest along on the development.

“Theoretically, (the multifamily) could be under construction next year,” Morris said, adding that it would be considered workforce housing. “There’s a shortage of multifamily in the county, a significant shortage.”

In other development news: 

1. The Winter Springs area could get a First Watch breakfast restaurant. The Seminole County Development Review Committee met Wednesday to discuss adding an outdoor patio area to an existing site developed as a restaurant. This is at the southwest intersection of Tuskawilla Road and Red Bug Lake Road, in the same plaza as a Publix. The proposed First Watch would be 4,920 square feet.
2. The Grove, a substance abuse center for adolescents in Winter Springs, received approval from the Winter Springs Planning and Zoning Board to add a 2,500-square-foot expansion. The Grove is owned by Impower, and its address is 580 Old Sanford Oviedo Road, Winter Springs.