MOUNT DORA, Fla. — Update: Mount Dora officials have rejected the proposed development that would bring eight tall buildings to the city in a 5-2 vote.
The vote came late Tuesday after an hours-long city council meeting spurred discussion and feedback from the community.
See our previous story below:
Mount Dora City Council members are expected to cast their final votes on a planned development that would bring eight tall buildings to the city.
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The developers recently made some changes and responded to concerns about building heights. The newest version of the plan reduces the tallest buildings in the development from the last time council members cast their vote, but some residents still said they’re worried the buildings don’t fit in their town.
“All I can see right now is that, a few years down the road, how we’re going to have this Mount Dora monstrosity that is going to be the mockery of the surrounding area,” resident Ephraim McCormick said. “This will be at the entrance to our town.”
READ: Mount Dora residents voice concerns over planned high-rise development
The mixed-use development will bring with it a grocery store, convention center, and hundreds of residential units. If approved, the developer says it would create more than 1,500 permanent jobs in Mount Dora.
The tallest building in the project was initially slated to be more than 350 feet before the developer slashed that height by 100 feet.
Developer Aaron Hakim said he’s worked in good faith to meet public concerns, especially over building height.
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“It has nothing to do with profitability, it has to do with the sustainability of the overall development,” Hakim said.
He added that if they reduce the building height more and don’t replace the square footage elsewhere, the development would risk not securing the funds it needs to break ground.
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