Planning Manager Jean Sanchez said city staff continue to have concerns about the site\u2019s layout and whether it meets the intent of the city\u2019s development design guidelines for corner lots.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI did receive comments from Public Works, but planning also had one outstanding comment about the site layout and, in general, how it is not meeting the city\u2019s development design guidelines,\u00a0particularly for\u00a0corner lots,\u201d Sanchez said during the meeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Derek Ramsburg, an engineer with Kimley-Horn, said the design includes features intended to soften the appearance of the site and improve the streetscape.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe renderings we have, we\u2019ve\u00a0done a pretty significant streetscape,\u201d Ramsburg said. He noted that the plans include a masonry wall, decorative fencing,\u00a0landscaping\u00a0and hedges along the roadway frontage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said those features are intended to make the site less visually intrusive from the road.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sanchez said\u00a0the project\u00a0remains\u00a0too vehicle-oriented and does not adequately address pedestrian-friendly design goals envisioned for the development.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt hasn\u2019t really substantially addressed planning comments in terms of making this a less vehicular-oriented building,\u201d Sanchez said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sanchez said staff believe the building should be reoriented toward the corner to better satisfy the city\u2019s design standards. She said Ramsburg could continue discussions with staff or\u00a0ultimately seek\u00a0consideration from the City Commission, which adopted the development design guidelines governing the project area.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Shoppes at East Shore\u00a0is\u00a0a commercial development along Ocoee-Apopka Road that is part of the broader East Shore growth area surrounding Lake Apopka. The development includes\u00a0the\u00a0recently opened Lake Carter Exchange<\/a>\u00a0project, which features retail,\u00a0restaurant\u00a0and medical office uses and is part of the area\u2019s expanding commercial corridor.\u00a0<\/p>\n The proposed 7-Eleven was one of several projects reviewed during the meeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n The DRC also reviewed a construction site plan for a warehouse project at 3716 Hogshead Road. Staff raised\u00a0concerns\u00a0about the need for adequate vehicle access for emergency responders.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Another construction site plan reviewed was for\u00a0Oakmoor, formerly known as Ondich North, a proposed 196-lot single-family subdivision on Oak Lane and properties at 3845, 4255 and 4267 Ondich Road. Staff said remaining comments primarily involve engineering issues, including sidewalk placement near existing fences and utility infrastructure needed to accommodate future pump station maintenance.\u00a0<\/p>\n The DRC is a staff-level review committee that evaluates development proposals for compliance with city regulations and\u00a0identifies\u00a0issues that must be resolved before projects can move forward. The committee does not make final approval decisions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Teresa Sargeant has been with The Apopka Chief for over 10 years.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/6.png\")
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