OVIEDO, Fla. – Oviedo City Council voted to change the land use designation of a nearly 10-acre piece of land from low-density residential to mixed-use, paving the way for the development of an apartment complex that will include commercial space.
In a narrow 3-2 vote, the council approved the change in the land use designation for the 9.62-acre parcel of land along Lockwood Boulevard and County Road 419.
Kimaya Real Estate has proposed a project called “Arya at Oviedo,” a mixed-use apartment complex that would house people ages 55 and older.
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The project would include more than 170 apartment units and more than 6,000 square feet for commercial space.
Discussion about the land use designation dominated the first two-and-a-half hours of Oviedo City Council’s regularly scheduled meeting Monday.
About a dozen people took turns during the public comment period to voice their objections to the plan.
“I have serious concerns about the traffic congestion this development will create on Lockwood, particularly at the entrance of the Publix’s plaza,” said one resident.
In addition to traffic concerns, residents cautioned the project could have environmental repercussions. They also complained about the height of the proposed apartment complex.
Although Kimaya came away with a victory in changing the land use designation, it did appear that city council members secured a concession from the developer.
An attorney representing Kimaya said the developer would agree to a lower height limit of the complex.