Preserve Historic Mount Dora

This is once again before city council tonight at 6 pm. Let your voice be heard!!

Amco Development returns to Mount Dora City Council for vote on June 4 It's been a long and winding process, but a controversial 38-acre, mixed-use development will ultimately land at the feet of Mount Dora City Council again at a meeting and final public hearing on...

May is National Preservation Month -

We are pleased to end National Preservation Month by congratulating Library Director Cathy Lunday for being recognized and awarded the first Preservation Project of the Year award by the Mount Dora Historic Preservation Board for her superb renovation of the Simpson Farmhouse.

Under the direction of Ms. Lunday the kitchen, bathroom, along with the original windows and front door of the Simpson Farmhouse, located on Donnelly Street, were renovated. The kitchen and bathroom were renovated with some period-specific elements and instead of replacing the old windows and faded wood door the choice was made to refurbish them, thereby maintaining the authenticity of the old home.

Doug Romaine of Austin Historical and Art Hill of Historical Elements were selected to restore the windows, weatherstrip them for insulation, strip and varnish the door. The outcome was amazing! The newly refurbished ‘old’ windows will far outlast new vinyl windows, and the home retains its original character and historic look. It takes a community dedicated to saving its historic structures for future generations. Congratulations to Cathy Lunday for a job well done!!

If you’re concerned about excessive development and the loss of rural land in Lake County, please take 5 minutes to read and react.

The city of Mount Dora voted to approve a separation agreement between the city and their city manager, Patrick Comiskey. We would like to thank Mr. Comiskey for all that he achieved while here in Mount Dora, and for being a proponent of Historic Mount Dora, working toward debt reduction and alleviating some of the disfunction in City Hall.

City Manager Patrick Comisky has been a proponent of historic Mount Dora since his arrival. He fast-tracked the historic street marker restoration project, the Simpson Farmhouse restoration project and appealed to city council to place the Community Building on the city’s list of historic places, thereby garnering extra protection for the historic building. He also was NOT in favor of the Amco project on Highway 46. He also worked to foster a more favorable Joint Planning Agreement with the county, as well as reduce the city’s debt.

As we all know, there are always two sides to every story. To be fair to Mr. Comisky, we are posting his rebuttal to the allegations launched at him by some city employees. Please read his 10 page response (along with attachments) with an open mind and draw your own conclusion.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H-vUIwvlr5chLX2734C6Ay_5L1G52SR5/view

On last night’s (February 6th) City Council Agenda - with a vote of 7 to 0 all council members voted YES to add the historic 1929 Community Building to the City’s list of Historic Places. This adds a second layer of protection to the historic structure. The request to place a sign that reads Mount Dora Music Hall on the exterior of the building will go before the Historic Preservation Advisory Board for approval or denial. If the board protects the historic building and votes NO to the sign, two council members - Crail and Rolfson have indicated they will overturn that vote and vote yes to approve the sign. That’s a slap in the face to the citizen appointed board whose duty is to protect historic structures. What do you think about adding this sign to the exterior of the Community Building? Please share this post.

On last night’s (February 6th) City Council agenda - Council rejected the revised negotiated plan for the AMCO development on Highway 46.
Stiles, Rolfson & Crail voted YES to accept it.
Dawson, Cataldo, Bryant & Walter voted NO to reject it.
Please share this post.

A Problematic Investigation

An investigation of the City Manager has just concluded and a report presented to city council….BUT is the report fair and unbiased?

1. A whistleblower complaint against the city manager was found to have no merit, yet the investigator continued to investigate WITHOUT consent from city council. Who authorized her to continue? So far, city council does not know. To date she has billed the city $155,000…with some questionable charges.
2. One city councilman’s interview and a document, he provided, were left out of the report.
3. The contents of the interview transcripts and their summarization in the final report reveal important items that were left out or not clearly reflected.
4. Not all of the city’s department directors were interviewed. Including, those who were mentioned in the report by other directors. The investigator failed to get the other side of the story.

Will city council be able to make an informed decision based on, what appears, to be a one-sided or incomplete report.

Today is Florida’s Arbor Day! At the last council meeting the mayor declared a proclamation celebrating trees…yet the city continues to allow clear-cutting of forests for development. The most recent location Highway 441 and 46. Would you like to see the city stop this practice?

Nice to see the City of Mount Dora maintain this tradition.🎄 This is just another thing that makes ‘Mount Dora Someplace Special!’

Are you tired of city and county commissioners approving large subdivisions on rural lands? Are you worried about the increase in traffic without any plans for new roads? Are you worried about overcrowded schools? Are you tired of not being listened to by your representatives? If so, then SPEAK UP by signing the Lake County Conservation Council’s petition and let our county commissioners know you want our rural lands protected! You also might want to follow these two pages for future updates. Let’s STAND TOGETHER to protect Lake County’s rural lands.

Happening this Saturday…

There is an online petition created by the Lake County Conservation Council that urges Lake County Government to use all its power to protect rural lands from high density development. An explanation and the petition is shown here for you to read. If you would like to sign the petition, click here: https://lcconservationcouncil.org/petitions/. Please share!

Mount Dora makes the list again!

These Small Towns in Florida Have More Charm Than We Can Handle How have we never heard of so many of these before?

Made the list of ‘charming towns’ again!! 💗

15 charming Florida towns worth a weekend road trip from Orlando The temps are rising and summer is on its way in Florida — and that means it’s road trip season. Embrace all the weird and wonderful Florida has to offer by experiencing some of the state’s most charming small towns, all within driving distance of Orlando.

Travel & Leisure magazine (April 16, 2023) sums up Mount Dora perfectly: “Though the area's natural beauty is impressive, what draws most to Mount Dora is its quaint downtown.” 👍

This Florida Town Is the Perfect Lakefront Getaway — and It's Home to the Oldest Continually Operating Hotel in the State Mount Dora is a small Florida town that's less than an hour from Orlando. Here's how to plan the perfect visit.

Mount Dora made the list of the South’s Best Small Towns by Southern Living magazine…coming in at #20! Another important reason to protect what we have. 👍

https://www.southernliving.com/souths-best/small-towns?hid=ee807b606eda5bfee6360fd6a5a442b70c767c2b&did=8479362-20230308&utm_campaign=sl-march_relationship-builder&utm_source=slv&utm_medium=email&utm_content=030823&lctg=ee807b606eda5bfee6360fd6a5a442b70c767c2b

The 50 Best Small Towns In The South 2023 From wine country in Texas to coastal towns along the Atlantic, we have the best small towns in the South, whether you're looking to visit or put down roots.

A huge THANK YOU to all who emailed, telephoned and spoke with council members, and to those who ’showed up’ at last night’s meeting!! City council voted NO 5 to 2 on the proposed development…with building height being the predominant reason. Rolfson and Crail cast the two ‘yes’ votes. Getting involved CAN make a difference! We live in a wonderful community that truly cares about keeping Mount Dora special!! ❤️ Let’s flood their email boxes again…but this time with a ’thank you’ note: [email protected].

STANDUP FOR THE MOUNT DORA YOU ❤️!

Grab your spouse, neighbor and friends and join us for a brief, friendly protest in front of city hall at 5:30. There is power in numbers! We need you to show up!

Here’s the latest changes on the project. The height is at 250’ (approx. 14 stories), there’s an increase in apartments from 650 to 865, an increase in condos from 450 to 665 and building A (office) has been moved from Phase 1 to Phase 3. The Wolf Branch Innovation District is supposed to be an employment center and not predominantly high density housing.

Final public hearing for Mount Dora’s largest proposed development is February 21 Final public hearing for Mount Dora’s largest proposed development is February 21 The legacy of Mount Dora is a hot topic and could be decided by Mount Dora City Council at a public meeting in City...

Great quote by President Eisenhower! We’re a mixed bag of residents…we’re your neighbors with no special power or clout but we are DETERMINED to KEEP MOUNT DORA SPECIAL!! Join us in front of City Hall tomorrow at 5:30 to help us keep Mount Dora special!! ❤️

The plan for the Wolf Branch Innovation District (WBID) is NOT the problem! The problem is the current development project which is not in keeping with the original vision for the area.

Blake Drury of G*I Consultants was hired by the city to create the vision for the WBID. He spoke at the most recent Planning & Zoning Board meeting, and when asked about the new project he said it is NOT in keeping with the character of Mount Dora and that a 250’ to 300’ building is NOT complentary to the WBID plan.

The project is up for its second and final vote at Tuesday’s council meeting at 6 pm. This article appeared in today’s Daily Commercial.

Keep Mount Dora Special!!

Join us in front of City Hall on Tuesday, February 21st at 5:30. We need a BIG turnout, so come and bring a friend and neighbor! Please share.

JUST ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT
The Mayor says we are uninformed. A Councilman says we do not trust the Council to make decisions. We were informed but it is hard to trust Council when we have been told this:

“The Wolf Branch Innovation District (WBID) is a planned 850 acre mixed-use employment center . . . The vision for this corridor is to create job and educational facilities within our community, making Mount Dora an even better place to live, work, play and do business. . . . The intent of this employment center is to create jobs and educational facilities within the community, thus providing opportunities to retain local workforce in proximity to housing.” - From the City web site.

But, instead, we are offered this current proposal – just another residential/commercial development. And we are asked to accept it - without question. But where are the work/educational centers in this proposal? Where are the types of businesses that we want in the WBID - pharma, high tech, defense, bio-medical development and scientific research? Where is the “Innovation”? The current proposal does not have this work-education-residential-commercial mix. Nor does the plan meet the height and the density advertised for the WBID.

Here’s the view of the proposed development on Highway 46 from the Sullivan Ranch subdivision. This is only the first building. Anything approved over the current 100’ height limit will set a new precedent. If you know anyone who lives in Sullivan Ranch, tag them so they’ll know what’s coming.

Residents from Mount Dora, Eustis and Sorrento have questions regarding the new development proposed for the Wolf Branch Innovation District (Wbid). Twenty six people spoke at the February 7th city council meeting expressing their thoughts on the project and asking questions.

So far the City has been silent…offering no answers in a public forum. A council workshop or town hall meeting were suggested but nearly a week later neither has been scheduled.

Do you think residents deserve to learn more about this project and it’s impact on the city? Do you think residents deserve answers to their questions? Why is the City silent?

Let City Council know citizens need to be a part of the process and we want more information and transparency on this and future projects: [email protected]

WOLF BRANCH INNOVATION DISTRICT
P&Z PRESENTATION WEDNESDAY

There will be a presentation on the WBID before the Planning & Zoning Board this Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 10:00 in the City Hall Board room.

Let city council know that you want to KEEP MOUNT DORA SPECIAL!
email City Council at this email about the Wolf Branch Innovation District project: [email protected]

Kudos to those who attended last night’s city council meeting and to those who spoke on the project. Attached is the video of the meeting for your review. Citizen comments start at 14 minutes and 28 seconds. Fast forward ahead to hear final comments by City Council at 2 hours, 12 minutes and 05 seconds.

Several people suggested a town hall meeting in which the proposal can be presented and residents’ questions can be answered. Several council members supported it. If you would like to see the city host a town hall meeting, please email city council at: [email protected].

https://mountdorafl.civicclerk.com/Web/Player.aspx?id=958&key=-1&mod=-1&mk=-1&nov=0