The Board of County Commissioners has approved a change to the Sutton Lakes Planned Development, located on a 139-acre property south of Horizon West, east of Avalon Road. In a 6-1 vote, the development was reduced from 700 total units to 557 units, split between 253 single-family units and 304 multi-family (apartment) units. The 20,000 square feet of retail commercial use remains unchanged. The developer for the project is Unicorp, which has developed The Mark, Westside Shoppes, and O-Town West in the area.

Three waivers from Orange County Code were granted: allowing multi-family buildings up to four stories (55 feet) within 100 feet of single-family properties, increasing the height of multi-family buildings more than 100 feet from single-family zoned properties to four stories (55 feet), and removing the requirement for a masonry wall between multi-family and single-family uses within the project. A previous condition restricting building height along the lake to one story was also removed.
In February 2023, a community meeting was held in which three residents attended and voiced concerns about traffic, congestion, the extent of multi-family development, school capacity, transportation infrastructure, and stormwater management. No members of the public attended the County Commissioner meeting.
The history of the Sutton Lakes PD has evolved over the years. Initially approved in January 1996 for the development of 400 attached short-term rental units, it was later amended in April 2003 to allow for 800 timeshare and/or short-term rental units along with a Village Center featuring ancillary resort uses. Despite these approvals, the site was never developed for timeshare resort purposes. On December 16, 2014, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners adopted Future Land Use Map Amendment 2014-2-A-1-2, changing the PD’s designations and approving a new development program which has now been revised again with this current amendment.
During the hearing, Commissioner Wilson voiced concerns regarding Avalon Road and the removal of the prior one-story requirement for houses along the lake. Orange County Staff stated that the number of trips is an actual decrease compared to what’s currently allowed, and the one-story requirement was initially intended for the timeshare product and carried over during the first change from timeshare to residential.
Unicorp President Chuck Whittall was present during the hearing and answered questions. He stated that they attempted to schedule a meeting with Commissioner Wilson three times to discuss their request but never received a response. Mr. Whittall emphasized that the existing homes on the lake are allowed to be two stories, homes on all lakes in Orange County are allowed to be two stories, current cypress trees along the lake will remain, and that the project represents an overall density reduction. He additionally stated that he wished they could’ve met with Commissioner Wilson to discuss these concerns prior, implemented Horizon West standards to integrate it more into Horizon West to the north, provided land for the expansion of Avalon Road, and had approximately a dozen meetings with Staff over two years. During comments, Commissioner Emily Bonilla expressed concern about the one-story restriction when it isn’t a requirement in any other parts of the county.
Commissioner Mike Scott questioned Commissioner Wilson as to why she couldn’t or wouldn’t meet with the applicant. Commissioner Wilson replied, “that assertion is totally bizarre, I meet with people all the time, every day.” She also stated she never refused a meeting, but Mr. Whittall replied that they tried three times to set up a meeting and have documented those requests.
Commissioner Bonilla voiced concern that this isn’t an isolated incident, and that over the past four years multiple developers have stated they can’t meet with Commissioner Wilson. She also stated that Orange County Staff recently attempted to reach the District 1 office but did not receive any response. Commissioner Bonilla voiced support for the addition of multi-family units to help with affordability, reduction in trips, and reduction in students.
Commissioner Wilson made a motion to deny, which was not seconded. Commissioner Moore made a motion to approve, with Bonilla seconding. The motion passed 6-1, with Commissioner Wilson the sole vote against.
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