A Winter Park-based developer has revised plans for a multifamily development on land in southwest Orange County owned by the CEO of Westgate Resorts.
Kolb Design Group submitted new land development plans March 6 to the county for the 269-unit apartment community along Palm Parkway next to Big Sand Lake. The project is directly adjacent to Unicorp National Developments’ Glasshouse, a luxury apartment complex that’s part of the billion-dollar O-Town West community in the county’s fast-growing tourist corridor.
The developer is PAC Palm Parkway Apartments LLC, an affiliate of PAC Land Development. The land is owned by JM Reserve LLC, an entity associated with Westgate CEO Jim Gissy, a major landowner in Central Florida.
One difference in the latest plans is how the pool is now part of a rooftop amenities area on the parking garage, bringing the project’s maximum height to 75 feet. Earlier plans show an adjoining two-story clubhouse on the west side next to an outdoor pool and deck.
Gissy’s representative referred questions to the developer. Attempts to reach P.A.C. President and CEO Tom Cavanaugh by phone and email were not successful.
A page from the plans for a new apartment community along Big Sand Lake on Palm Parkway in southwest Orange County. (Elevation by Cormia Design Group)
Cormia Design Group is the project architect. Other firms involved in the project are planner/engineer Kolb Design Group of Deland, landscape architect Land Design of Orlando.
The latest plans show a five-story residential building that wraps around an eastside courtyard with an active amenities area and dog park. The building encircles the parking garage then wraps around a smaller westside courtyard with another active amenities area. The county requires 1.4 acres (25%) of open space and plans shows 2.66 acres (2.09 landscaped area and .57 acres from a dry pond). There is a dock extending out onto the lake.
The building will have 142 studio or one-bedroom units and 127 with two or more bedrooms. The garage will have 418 parking spaces, and the surface lot will accommodate another 51 vehicles.
P.A.C. Land filed plans for the site in 2021 that called for a mixed-use development with 10,000 square feet of commercial development, up to about 1,400 timeshare units and approximately 260 townhomes. However, those plans were quickly withdrawn.
The apartment community would rise on about 10 acres and will be built in one phase.  PD has a future land use of medium-high density residential allowing for a wide-range of uses including hotel and convention center hotel use, timeshare use, multifamily use and industrial use.“]
In addition to the rooftop pool, plans show a pair of landscaped courtyards, including one with a dog park, and a boardwalk and fishing pier on Big Sand Lake. P.A.C. Land has a history of developing apartment communities with high-end amenities.
Mallory Square, which P.A.C. Land sold for $84.84 million last year to St. Petersburg-based Blue Sky Communities, is a prime example. The Lake Nona-area community features an extensive outdoor pool area with a hot tub, a Jacuzzi, seating and lounge areas, hammocks, grilling stations, games such as Connect Four, cornhole and ring toss, and private cabanas with televisions and complimentary towel service. The community also had a residents-only bowling alley.
Brian Bell can be reached at bbell@orlandosentinel.com. Have a tip about Central Florida development? Email Newsroom@GrowthSpotter.com. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.