Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to footer

Evergreen subdivision and its consistency with Orange County’s Land Use Plan in the Tangerine Rural Settlement

Maintaining the rural settlement criteria of minimum one acre homesites as intended when the Tangerine Rural Settlement land use was adopted in 1991 is critical to preserving the character of the Rural Settlement and is critical to the pattern set by surrounding properties, a standard set in place over 30 years ago.

Impact of the Wekiva River Protection Act to development: The criteria of one  acre home sites on land parcels  that must also provide 50% open space to meet the  Wekiva River Protection Act results in new development that is even more environmental responsive to protect open pervious land area than reducing lot sizes to less than one acre.  The typical dwelling on a one acre home site will typically provide even more open space than developing smaller lots ranging from ¼ acre to ¾  acre when calculating the impervious area occupied by the home, driveway, pool or accessory building(s).  Each lot will be more environmentally friendly space for septic tanks whereas smaller lots will create a much higher per cent of land area covered by impervious surfaces including the new home, driveways, swimming pools & accessory buildings. The density of residential properties is dictated by the County’s Comprehensive Plan in the new 2050 Vision Plan, however, the lot sizes may be determined by the character of the area where development is planned. (1) New development must be designed to maintain the character & compatibility with the rural settlement (land use) (2) Lot sizes must be commensurate with the rural character of surrounding home sites. (3) Environmentally, larger lot sizes, such as one acre, will further enhance the required “open space” by creating  home site with pervious areas much larger than smaller home sites, thereby furthering the positive effect of ground water percolation area into the aquifer which is a goal of the Wekiva River Protection Act.

Listed below is a sampling of examples of other Tangerine Subdivisions and parcels developed with one acre or larger home sites within the recent years and some historical record of older platted lots:

1) Laurels of Mount Dora (within Tangerine): 47 one acre lots (Access from Dora Drive)

2) Martins Preserve: 17 one acre lots (Earlwood Ave abutting U S 441)3) Dora Estates:

3) One acre lots at Dora Estates at northeast corner of Dora Drive at Saddler Rd

4) Elysium Subdivision: 42 one acre lots at west side of Clayton Street & Lake County boundary.

5) Earlwood Avenue & Lake Ola Drive: Over 90 home sites one acre or larger lots.

6) Sloewood Drive (both sides) & north side of Sadler Road: Over 70 home sites one acre or larger.

Evergreen Subdivision & Consistency with the County’s Land Use Plan in the Tangerine Rural Settlement

Maintaining the rural settlement criteria of minimum one acre homesites as intended when the Tangerine Rural Settlement land use was adopted in 1991 is critical to preserving the character of the Rural Settlement and is critical to the pattern set by surrounding properties, a standard set in place over 30 years ago. Impact of the Wekiva River Protection Act to development: The criteria of one unit per acre of land being developed with 50% open space can be accomplished along with creating one acre home sites while meeting the Wekiva River Protection Act and will be even more responsive to protecting open pervious land area than allowing ½ acre or less home sites. Having one acre lots versus smaller lots will create even more open space. Each lot will be more environmentally friendly space for septic tanks whereas smaller lots will create a much higher per cent of land area covered by impervious surfaces including the new home, driveways, swimming pools & accessory buildings. The density of residential properties is dictated by the current County’s Comprehensive Plan and in the new 2050 Vision Plan,  however, the lot sizes must be determined by the character of the area where development is planned. (1) New development must be designed to maintain the character & compatibility with the rural settlement (land use)  (2) Lot sizes must be commensurate with the rural character of surrounding home sites. (3) Environmentally, larger lot sizes, such as one acre, will further enhance the required “open space” by creating  home site with pervious areas much larger than smaller acre home sites, thereby furthering the positive effect of ground water percolation area into the aquifer which is a goal of the Wekiva River Protection Act. Listed below is a sampling of positive examples of other Tangerine Subdivisions developed with one acre or larger home sites within the recent years and some historical record of older platted lots: 1) Laurels of Mount Dora (within Tangerine): 47 one acre lots (Access from Dora Drive) 2) Martins Preserve: 17 one acre lots (Earlwood Ave abutting U S 441)3) Dora Estates: 23 one acre lots (Access from Dora Drive at Saddler Rd)4) Elysium: 42 one acre lots (Access from Clayton Street) 5) Beauclaire Estates: 14 two acre lots (Access from Beauclaire Avenue)  6) Chesterhill Estates: All abutting lots are one acres 7) Lake Ola Carlton Estates: 9 one acre lots (Earlwood Avenue) 8) Whiz Acres at 6590 Clayton St – RCE-1 approved for one acre homesites only- not platted 9) Marot’s Addition to Tangerine – Earlwood & Dora Avenues- 12 Platted homesites which include one & two acre lots with one at 3.8 acres. 10) Homesites on Lakes Ola, Lake Beauclaire & Lake Carlton range in size from one to 18 acres.

 Home sites platted within the interior of Tangerine Rural Settlement in the town center near the Tangerine Park, community center & church are mostly smaller than one acre as was the custom near the town center & in the Lake Ola Beach subdivision and were developed years ago and pre-dated the creation of the Tangerine Rural Settlement, and were responsive to the times over 50 years ago. The above referenced list is not exhaustive and many more properties meeting the one acre minimum size could be list with additional research.

With respect to the use of the term “clustering” in the Wekiva Protection Act and the County’s Land Use Plan, it is important to note that no lot size limitation is indicated to accomplish “clustering” however, any lot size within a development can be located in a manner that accomplishes “clustering” or grouping of lots regardless of size AND DOES NOT DEMAND THAT THE DEVELOPER CREATE SMALLER LOTS.

The Tangerine Community respects the protections established in the Wekiva River Protection Act, including providing for natural open space to enhance water quality and the protection of the natural habitats for animals and birds native to our rural land including protections extended to this area as a “Bird Sanctuary”. Please protect Tangerine’s rural heritage by requiring one acre home sites!!! Thank you for your attention to this extremely critical matter for the benefit of present and future Tangerine residents!!

Tangerine Development Committee & Members of the Tangerine Improvement Society (incorporated as the oldest Orange County Community Association in 1909).

Respectfully Submitted

George Wiggins

321-303-7483

Third Generation Orange County Resident