Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

The Apopka Planning Commission approved a land use amendment and rezoning for a luxury car storage warehouse, a special exception for an accessory dwelling unit, and a revised development plan for a warehouse. The commission also discussed holding a workshop in September to review and suggest changes to the land development code.

About this meeting

Government Body
Planning Commission
Meeting Type
Planning Commission
Location
Apopka, FL
Meeting Date
July 14, 2026

Published excerpts

Only published remarks appear here. The full transcript is not published.

63 sections (from 71 segments)

2:40 – 2:53•Robert Ryan

This is the July 4th, 2026 Planning Commission meeting. We're going to stand for a moment of silent prayer and then I pledge allegiance.

3:29 – 3:48•Robert Ryan

We have a public comment section now. Anybody wants to speak on any matter that's not on the agenda can speak now. And apparently nobody wants to speak, so I'm going to close that out. And that actually is the approval of minutes for April 14th, 2026.

4:02•Robert Ryan

Oh, I'm sorry. June 9th, 2026. I'm at the wrong page here.

4:15 – 5:05•Robert Ryan

All in favor say yes. Aye. All in favor say no. Pass unanimously. So first item is subject ordinance 3160 small scale land amendment, East King Road. I'm sorry, first of all, we need to recognize city council members in the audience. We have Mayor Nesta here. We have Vice Mayor Diane Valpoet. I know I get it wrong every time. And we have Commissioner Ruth here. Thank you for attending. Go ahead.

6:44•Robert Ryan

Is anybody having questions for staff? Okay.

7:34•Robert Ryan

I have a question. How many parking spaces are there?

9:59•Robert Ryan

If anybody has any questions, let me know.

11:14 – 11:26•David Woods

Yes, ma'am. Commissioner Woods. Yes. I just have a couple of questions. Looking at the layout here, what's on the second floor?

11:57 – 12:11•David Woods

Okay. Next question. We're storing cars. Are they going to be working on the cars there? Like I need an oil change, I want to do it myself, or I want to tune the engines?

12:21 – 12:48•David Woods

Okay. And the detail area, that's an area set aside for, if you go back to the map. You know what you're... Nope. There you go. Next one. The one with the layout. One too far back. There you go. Yes, sir. What is that going to be used for?

13:03•David Woods

So I can come out and bring my car media, which I own, and we'll be keeping that. Yeah, I had one too, by the way. Okay, thank you.

14:13•Eric Mock

Just a comment. I do not have one of these type of cars.

14:20 – 15:03•Eric Mock

But I have had several people approach me and say, here's what needs to be available. I've got a neighbor that said that he has a friend that if there was space, he has room for eight cars. And he would probably buy even more. And I was just like shocked. But this concept kind of reminds me a little bit. Not exactly. But, you know, the airport hangers that are currently in Apopka. Yes. You know, there's mezzanines there. I've been inside a couple of them. Some of them were very, very nice. Yeah. And this looks like a very nice project.

15:28 – 15:47•Robert Ryan

I have a question. Our Land Development Code mandates that all developments in Cedar Poplar must comply with all federal and state laws. Are you compliant with all federal and state laws in regards to ADA parking and EB charging stations?

16:02 – 16:16•Robert Ryan

Okay. Anybody want to make a public statement? Anybody from the public want to talk? Then we'll close that out. Jim Green would say, what's your pleasure?

20:09 – 20:43•Robert Ryan

I'll second it. So Commissioner Doomey makes the motion and second by Commissioner Mock. And let's take a vote. All in favor say aye. Aye. All in favor say no. Unanimously passed. Congratulations. Thank you. All right. The next item is quasi-judicial. Ordinance number 3161, change of zoning, East King Road. Does anybody have the next part?

21:38 – 21:55•Robert Ryan

Any questions from the staff? Any questions for the applicant? We might open a public hearing. You want to make a statement in public? That's my good statement. What's your pleasure?

21:56 – 22:16•Eric Mock

I'll make a motion that we find the proposed change of zoning from CC community commercial to IL light industrial consistent with the comprehensive plan and land development code and compatible with the characteristics of the surrounding areas. Recommend approval of the proposed change of zoning based on the findings and facts presented in the staff report and exhibits.

22:17 – 22:33•Robert Ryan

Motion by Commissioner Mock. Do I have a second? By Commissioner Woods. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any negative? Say no.

22:45 – 23:05•Robert Ryan

Thank you for your comment. I appreciate that. Okay. Our next one is quasi-judicial again. That's 1030 East Sandpiper Street, SPX. Has there been any X4K? No.

24:23•Robert Ryan

Any questions from the staff? I have a question. How large is this unit going to be?

24:47 – 24:58•Robert Ryan

Is it allowed to have a kitchen in that unit? Thank you very much. Is the applicant here? Do you want to make a statement? I'm sorry. Okay.

25:00 – 25:23•Eric Mock

As I was reading this, Mr. Holmes, as I was reading this, if I recall correctly, this was over a year and a half ago. We had another individual do an ADU here in Apopka. This one, if I'm not mistaken, because it's over an acre, has to have the special exception. I think the other one didn't because it was just under an acre. Is that correct?

25:48 – 26:07•Robert Ryan

Any other questions from staff? Does the applicant want to make a statement? Please state your name and address, please.

26:33•Robert Ryan

You're a very good son. Thanks. Any questions for the applicant?

26:39 – 27:10•Eric Mock

I did have a question in your very, very nice presentation that was in our packet that I believe you used when you presented to the public. You did a public presentation for anybody that was there. There was an option A and an option B. Can you explain that? Are you wanting to do option A or option B, or is that determinate upon getting the exception, trying to choose? Because the option B appears to have a separate driveway.

30:59•Robert Ryan

We can have the staff or we can have the applicant explain what's going on here. Okay, that's fine. Yeah.

31:49•Robert Ryan

Is there anybody else in the public who want to make a statement or have a question? And then we'll close the public statement.

32:22 – 32:56•Robert Ryan

Motion by Commissioner Dewey. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Commissioner Harris. All in favor, say aye. Any negative? Say no. Pass unanimously. Congratulations. All right. We're moving on to just the last one. Site plans. Quasi-judicial again. Has there been any ex parte? No. Okay. This is a revised cold link APACA major development plan.

34:28•Robert Ryan

Any questions for staff? One from Commissioner Melwood. I think there was some concern about traffic turn lanes.

35:05•Robert Ryan

Okay. Anybody else on staff have questions for staff?

35:12•Robert Ryan

Mayflower Avenue, is that going to be brought up to city standards?

35:22•Robert Ryan

Is that a city road or is that going to be a private road? It's a city road.

35:30•Robert Ryan

But the applicant has agreed to do Mayflower to city standards.

35:40 – 35:57•Robert Ryan

Okay. We've got that written in stone, right? It's right on the plan. Okay. Very good. Anybody got any other questions for staff? Questions for the applicant? Do you have a statement?

37:38•Robert Ryan

Thank you, Commissioner Harris. Any other questions? Commissioner Mock has a question.

37:43 – 38:12•Eric Mock

Yeah, that was a very extensive traffic. I sat and looked at that for probably an hour. And as I recall, when we had a discussion, so I've got a couple of questions. You're coming back because there was the building. If I understand correctly, the building in the drawing is correct. You just labeled the square footage incorrectly? Correct. Okay. All right. So I understand that part now.

38:36 – 40:22•Eric Mock

But as I understand, the building didn't grow by 25,000 square feet. It was just incorrectly written. Correct. And one of the discussions that we had, and Commissioner Harris talks about the traffic, you know, that type of thing. And that was my large concern at the same time, was the trucks coming out there and exiting. And what I found was interesting was that even in the traffic study, it showed left-hand turns. onto what is, you know, Binion to then make that light there at 441. And I go through there when Binion is backed up and you have to stay. You can't even make a right because if you

40:49 – 41:06•Eric Mock

I would encourage the... entity to encourage drivers to make a right out of there instead of trying to make a left on that road until there's some resolution on 441. It would be a challenge.

41:13 – 41:41•Robert Ryan

Okay, now for the hard question. Any other questions from commissioners? Okay. Like I said before, the land development code mandates that all developments and must have the federal and state compliance with state law, state and federal law. Are you compliant with ADA parking regulations and EV charging stations?

41:46 – 41:57•Robert Ryan

Okay. Thank you very much. Okay. public statement. Anybody want to make a statement from the public? Seeing none, we'll close that down.

42:00•Eric Mock

Mr. Chairman, I'd go ahead and recommend approval of the revised Coldlink Apopka Major Development Plan.

42:07 – 42:32•Robert Ryan

Okay, we got a motion by Commissioner Mock. Do we have a second? We got a second from Commissioner Woods. And everybody wants to... Everybody, both in favor, say hi. Any negative, say no. Congratulations. That passes unanimously. Now it's time for any new business.

42:36•Robert Ryan

Listen, Mr. Dessler made it look so easy.

42:48 – 43:44•Robert Ryan

I have some new business here. I asked the Planning Department to send you an email. It's about some of the rights of the Planning Commission. It's 3.32 under B3. We can prepare a city comprehensive plan and amendments to the comprehensive plan. which I would say would be the land development code. We can recommend plans to the city council. We can obtain citizen and public input on all phases. I'm thinking, is there any changes you want to make to the land development code? Oh, absolutely, sir. Well, let's address that at the next meeting. Everybody do their homework on it.

43:46•Robert Ryan

We can have a workshop. Are you okay with having a workshop on a different day?

44:00•Eric Mock

Yeah, let's try that. Your choice. So I know Mr. Howe, when did we do that joint? Was that a year ago?

44:26•Robert Ryan

Mr. Howell can make it work this time. He told me.

44:31 – 45:09•Eric Mock

Well, the question I would have, because I read through this, and when I... I went through that and I probably got 14 pages single spaced of things that I read through that I thought, well, if I was rewriting this, I would write this. But then, of course, the state came back and had their denial. Where are we in that process? Because I thought after that, you were going to re. Do it up to the state approved level and then we're going to look at it again.

45:33•Eric Mock

So is this an appropriate time to go ahead and submit suggestions? Yes.

46:46•Robert Ryan

Well, we want the public to be involved.

46:48•Eric Mock

Are you saying this is the same day as the planning commission meeting?

47:16•Robert Ryan

We need the input from the public because they're always, you know how they are.

47:48 – 47:59•Robert Ryan

Absolutely. We wanted to initiate it. We have ideas, but I don't think they thought about it. Green space. Green space. I'll second that. All in favor, say aye.

48:35•Robert Ryan

That's fine. And move forward from that.

48:50•Robert Ryan

It's going to take some time. Just for the benefit of the public. We can't do it anyways. Yeah, I agree. It's going to take some time. I just want to get this moving and started.

50:49•David Woods

I also just want to make a comment. This is going to be multiple workshops. I mean, we're not going to be able to sit down in one meeting.

50:56•Robert Ryan

Yeah, we're going to build Roman one day.

50:58 – 51:09•David Woods

Right. So, I mean, it could take us a year before we come up, you know, to answer your question, could take us a year before we come up with concrete recommendations.

51:10•Robert Ryan

I just want the Planning Commission to be involved in this time, which we've never before done.

52:08 – 52:21•Robert Ryan

Okay. The public statement. So in my second, second, second. Okay. All in favor say aye. Aye. Negative say no. Pass unanimously.

52:21•Eric Mock

So what date are we doing this on in September? The eighth, September 8. Yes.

52:32•Robert Ryan

Okay. September one. Thank you. Okay. All right. The old business.

These excerpts are remarks by officials whose identity a person confirmed, from a transcript generated automatically from the official public meeting video and presented unedited. Accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.