The Winter Garden City Commission dispensed as the commission and reconvened as the Community Redevelopment Agency, which unanimously approved the conversion of a basketball court into pickleball courts. 

Marc Hutchinson, the economic development director for the city, said One Winter Garden conducted a community-wide, door-to-door survey with residents to gage interest in a pickle ball court as a new amenity in Zanders Park. 

He said the survey was conducted in response to city staff and community stakeholders receiving feedback from residents. 

Of the 56 households that submitted responses to the survey, 73% were in favor of adding pickleball as an amenity. 

The Community Redevelopment Agency approved using Advantage Courts to convert one basketball court into four pickleball courts, add an extra coat application of the surface and resurfacing work of the other remaining adjoining basketball court for $50,248.

More recycling on the way

Another recycling company will be making its way down the roads of Winter Garden.

The Winter Garden City Commission unanimously approved a non-exclusive franchise agreement for Ready Set Recycle, a private recycling company. 

Commissioners Colin Sharman and Iliana R. Jones were absent.

The company has been communicating with HOAs in the city to start their operations. 

The agreement, which ends Sept. 30, 2027, allows Ready Set Recycle to operate Mondays through Fridays and can be renewed in one-city fiscal year increments for up to three fiscal years. 

Hutchinson said the Zanders Park amenity upgrades are a significant part of the overall revitalization efforts of the Historic East Winter Garden Neighborhood. 

Site plan approved for East Plant Street properties

The Winter Garden City Commission unanimously approved the site plan for 1144 E. Plant St., which allows for the development of a single-story 1,831-square-foot commercial building and a two-story, 1,840-square-foot live-work building with associated site improvements on the adjacent property of 1142 E. Plant St. 

The proposed improvements are a cross-access driveway and a Plant Street driveway, which would provide road access for both parcels.

Kelly Carson, the city’s planning director, said the plan is consistent with the property’s cap zoning ordinance, which was approved by the City Commission in February.

Mayor John Rees questioned whether there would be enough parking on site. Carson said the overlay requires that the developer cannot build any more parking than the code minimum. In this case the developer must provide two-and-one-half spaces for every live-work unit and three spaces for every 1,000-square-foot commercial space, which totals eight spaces for this site plan. There are six surface spaces as well as a space in the garage and a space just outside the garage, Carson said. 

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