WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. – A community meeting Wednesday night will give the public a chance to see the plans for a proposed housing project in Winter Springs’ Town Center District.
A notice posted by the city says the workshop will consider an “aesthetic review” of the proposed development in the Blake Commons area near S.R. 434 and Michael Blake Boulevard, where 85 townhomes would be built.
The post on Facebook has several comments from residents with concerns about too much development already.
[WATCH: Mayor defends Winter Springs from audit criticisms]
One person wrote in part, “It seems like we’re sprinting toward maximum density — cramming in apartments, townhomes, and zero-lot-line developments wherever we can fit them. I get it — growth is inevitable in Central Florida. But what’s happening right now doesn’t feel like planned growth. It feels like unchecked growth.”
The city’s online development tracker shows several projects on the land, including the Sea Hawk Cove extension, The Learning Experience daycare, and 7-Brew drive-thru coffee shop. Across S.R. 434, there’s a Chick-fil-A under construction on the corner where the city approved a site plan in May. There are also plans for an Ace Hardware.
Commissioner Victoria Bruce says Wednesday night’s community workshop will give residents a chance to see what the development is going to look like, give their comments, and ask questions.
“Residents can ask any questions, that’s the reason for it,” said Bruce. “The applicant, the developers, the landowners will be there to discuss any kind of concerns there might be with any residents nearby or anywhere in the city.”
[WATCH: Winter Springs commissioners to vote on doubling Tuscawilla assessment fee]
Our News 6 team asked Bruce how much development is too much development in the Town Center district.
“The scope of the town center has always been high density,” said Bruce. “That’s in the original comp plan from when they started the town center, and so we knew this land would be developed.”
Bruce also addressed concerns about the environment and traffic on S.R. 434.
“I’m happy to say on Monday night, we were able to modify our tree mitigation to make sure that we are planting trees for any trees removed,” said Bruce. “So we get funds, like $150 a tree, and some of those funds are being utilized for equipment. And so we’ve modified that to make sure that we’re actually mitigating for any tree loss.”
This summer, several city commissioners were criticized for voting to waive $227,000 in fees for cutting down trees to build the Sea Hawk Cove extension, commercial projects, and proposed townhomes. The commission ultimately decided to re-vote in August, and as a result, the developer would be required to pay the arbor fee.
Adriene Zara and her husband moved to Winter Springs 20 years ago to live on Lake Jessup. Wednesday afternoon, she told our News 6 crew just how much has changed in the last two decades.
“I expected that there would be growth,” said Zara. “I just was hoping it would be a little more tempered.”
Bruce said the city did deny a development for a proposed car wash close to the Starbucks nearby.
“There are conditional uses that are allowed, and there’s uses that are not allowed,” said Bruce.
She said the property where the townhomes would be built is zoned for this use.
“If they can do it within the scope of the conditions of the comp plan, then they can proceed with development,” said Bruce. “Now, if they asked for variances, we can say no to those. And that might either halt the project or make them want to modify it.”
Details for Wednesday night’s community meeting are below:
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025
Time: 6 –7 p.m.
Location: The Foundry Church – Classroom 21491 E. State Road 434, Winter Springs, FL 32708
The townhome project would still need to go before the city’s Planning and Zoning Board in December. A final decision would be up to the City Commission.