A proposed rooftop bar in Hamlin will be contributing additional funding for critical roadway improvements following a new traffic analysis by Orange County. The Orange County Board of County Commissioners approved an amendment to the Proportionate Share Agreement on January 28, 2025, increasing the required contribution for infrastructure upgrades. The project’s developers must pay an additional $120,616 toward improvements at Avalon Road (CR 545) and Summerlake Park Boulevard to address newly identified traffic deficiencies.

The original agreement, approved in May 2023, required an initial proportionate share payment of $156,911, which was paid in November 2023. That payment allowed for the approval of a Capacity Encumbrance Letter (CEL), a prerequisite for moving forward with development. However, the CEL approval has since expired, and a new county traffic analysis identified additional roadway deficiencies that must be addressed before the project can proceed. As a result, an additional payment is now required to mitigate the newly identified infrastructure impacts totaling $277,527 in fees.

The funds will be directed to an escrow account and used for improvements to Avalon Road and Summerlake Park Boulevard. The payment is due within 90 days of the effective date of the amended agreement.

The required proportionate share payments for development projects have become a common requirement in Horizon West, as Orange County works to balance rapid growth with infrastructure improvements. Other recent CEL-related payments include:

• $156,612 for a new daycare along Seidel Road
• $144,727 for Don the Beachcomber, a tiki bar and restaurant coming to Hamlin
• $332,190 for Shoppes at Lakeview Pointe, a commercial development contributing to Ficquette Road and Reams Road improvements

Public records indicate that the proposed rooftop bar may be named “62 Social.” While details on the establishment remain limited, the name supports the mixed use of a liquor store and rooftop bar.

As commercial and residential projects continue to reshape Horizon West, these payments play a key role in funding road expansions and mitigating traffic congestion.