NEWEST UPDATE:  May 14, 2009 - The City of Orlando's Planning staff
has not received any revised applications, plans or submissions from Eola Capital
and have not heard of any plans to do so in the near future.

Commissioner Sheehan remains committed to keeping those interested in this matter updated and will notify the residents of District 4 as soon as possible should any new developments occur on this issue.

UPDATE:  October 21, 2008 - Eola Capital has withdrawn their application for consideration before the Municipal Planning Board.
This means no further development on this project
will occur in the immediate future.
The soonest Eola Capital may re-apply with a site plan or any other action with regard to their project will be May 2009.

October 16, 2008

There has been a great deal of correspondence coming into my office over the past several weeks regarding the proposed Eola Capital project.  I wanted to wait until after last evening’s (10/15/2008) public hearing to respond to e-mails that I have received about this project.

First of all, I want to reiterate my support of the public input process.  All projects and proposals that are not constructed under current and existing zoning restrictions go through an extra layer of public hearings in District 4.  I require all planned developments to make presentations to the adjoining neighborhood associations and to have public hearings to receive input from citizens who may not be able to attend Municipal Planning Board or City Council meetings during the workday.   I feel it is the developer’s responsibility to work with adjoining neighbors to resolve issues of concern and listen to their opinions related to the proposed development.

The Eola Capital project has been controversial since its inception.   Eola Capital assembled 5 parcels adjacent to Washington Street.  These lots were purchased from individual owners, not the City of Orlando.  The homes and offices have never been under any historic designation.  An applicant tried last month to designate the homes and offices as historic landmarks through the Historic Preservation Board.  This was denied. During this process, there were several hundred signatures submitted to the Orlando City Council by preservationists to save the Washington Street homes after the previous application by Eola Capital six months ago.   The City of Orlando and staff have worked in good faith to try to address the concerns of residents and those who signed petitions.  The concept of a land swap with the park was first suggested by historic preservationists during the last public hearing.  After that public meeting, I asked Eola Capital to come up with alternate site plans that could save some, or all, of the homes.  The Memorandum of Understanding, which recently went to City Council on October 6^th, was simply a measure put in place to try to negotiate, in good faith, in the interest of full public disclosure.  As a matter of fact, my office has been informing everyone who has contacted us as to the progress and process of the application.  I even asked Eola Capital to change the date of the meeting to a date I could attend after  receiving much feedback from concerned residents.

To be clear, nothing has been decided   and I will not take a position on this at this time.  Eola Capital has the right to make application, you have the right to respond with your concerns, and I have the responsibility to hear from all affected parties and make an informed decision.  I have been very consistent in this approach throughout my career, and find that it gives everyone an opportunity to participate.  I represent the interests of my constituents, my district and this great city and I would be derelict in my duties to not listen to all sides and all options with this, and any other, project.

One accusation that is unfounded and that I will respond to is that there is some plot to get rid of the Sunday Eola Market.  Nothing could be farther from the truth and my commitment to the Farmer’s Market remains unwavering and stronger than before.  There will always be a home for the market at Lake Eola Park.  Rumors that it will be closed, as well as protesting there, just make it more difficult for the vendors to succeed there.

I will continue to work with you with an open mind and heart.  Whatever variation of this project ultimately is submitted to the city for review and consideration must go through a lengthy process and will be thoroughly vetted by staff, the Municipal Planning Board and, ultimately, the City Council.  The City Council review will include, at least, two public hearings with as much public input as necessary.  It is my hope, at the end of all this, that we can work together on a compromise that can benefit everyone involved – the residents, the neighborhood, the park, Eola Capital and the city.  If not, then Eola Capital can, legally and by-right, demolish the existing homes and simply build what is allowed to them within their current development rights, which is a 40-foot office building, or a 55-foot mixed-use building on Washington Street.

Thank you for your participation in this process and your valuable interest in what occurs in our city.

Sincerely,

Patty Sheehan
Commissioner, District 4
Orlando City Council