The 800 North Orange property is zoned AC-3A/T by the City of Orlando (this is the small lot next to the parking garage that is adjacent to our building). The owner/developer, Ustler Development, is considering two development options for the site. Both options are mid-rise office/commercial/residential buildings with 9 stories. The existing zoning allows for much taller high-rise buildings with much more square footage.
Both development options utilize the joint cross-access driveway that services the Park North Condominiums and the 800 North Orange Avenue property. [This is what we are fighting!!! The City is giving Ustler rights to take our guest parking spacing and drive on OUR property without compensation]. It is unconstitutional to take property rights away from a private owner and give it to another private owner.
This will cause safety risks for those 51 units facing the North. At this time, the 800 N Orange Ave is planning to build only three feet away from our property. How will a fire engine be able to get to a unit with only a three foot set back?
How is this happening? We have over 300 units in this building all paying property taxes. I’ve estimated that our property, as a collective, pays about $1.2 million in property taxes a year. Why are we not being heard?
Park North is appealing the Planning/Zoning Determination recently awarded under the new plan filed of LDC2008-00021
Interestingly, Mark.Cechman (mark.cechman@cityoforlando.net) stated to me in a MPB technical committee meeting that “he had serious problems” with Ustlers plan and YET, now he is signing off on the same proposal without holding them to the City Code!
The City Attorney, Kyle Shephard was the one who threatened Park North with a Code Violation for not allowing the cross access use agreement (never existed) – where we have a letter (all owners do) from the City of Orlando stating that no code issues exist Reference Exhibit XVI in our Condominium Prospectus, dated June 18th 2004…
SIMPLY PUT: This effort of taking lot 12 is unconstitutional as it puts us in a state of inverse condemnation – yet the City will still demand property taxes off of our Owners!
BTW: Recent Email requests to our own City Commissioners have been ignored…thanks for watching our back! Robert.stewart@cityoforlando.net
Interested in tracking the City of Orlando escapade?
http://www.cityoforlando.net (search for permit case# LDC2008-00054- the new one).
Okay kids the gloves are off – the city told reporter Kirk Hawkins with WFTV that “the condo residents and their lawyer have a misunderstanding of the law…” I ask you, who’s law are they referencing? How can they speak for the original developer (Tim Tinsley) – and if he agreed to the easement, prior to selling the property this would have been disclosed at some point and not several years later when the City’s Golden Boy (Ustler) wanted to develop the lot????
HEARING APRIL 15TH AT CITY HALL!!!!!
I urge all owners to act now!!! This is your property – I don’t own here, but you do and you have a duty to make noise and refuse to accept this action!!
PLAN TO ATTEND THE APRIL 15TH HEARING AT CITY HALL!
What time is the hearing?