Commission schedules second hearing for New Life Slavic Church annexation, cites tree‑saving adjustments

The Winter Garden City Commission on first reading approved three ordinances to annex two parcels (1414 E. Crown Point Road and 1325 E. Fuller’s Cross Road), amend their future‑land‑use designation to city low‑density residential and rezone the properties to a planned unit development to allow construction of an 11,162‑square‑foot New Life Slavic Church.

Planning staff told the commission the project would include a one‑story worship area with 286 seats and a two‑story office and meeting wing. Staff said the applicant provided 30‑foot landscape buffers around property boundaries, proposed two access points (one on East Fuller’s Cross and one on East Crown Point Road) and that the existing traffic signal at the intersection would help mitigate traffic impacts. Staff recommended approval and the commission set a second reading and public hearing for March 26.

Commissioners asked about prior development interest at the corner, vehicle circulation and preservation of mature trees. Planning staff said the church was considered a compatible, quasi‑residential transitional use for the signalized intersection and described efforts to retain significant trees: the applicant widened a parking island to save a roughly 48‑inch oak and reoriented parking to avoid other mature trees where feasible.

The mayor opened a public hearing and, seeing no public speakers, closed it before a motion to approve on first reading carried unanimously.

The commission’s action advances the annexation and rezoning to a required second reading; no site plan changes were reported as necessary at this stage.