Land planning board votes 3–2 to allow limited special‑education programs in Industrial Core

The Land Planning Agency on March 11 voted 3–2 to recommend a change that would allow limited special‑education programs to operate in the city’s Industrial Core under new supplemental standards.

Chris Skinner, the city’s community development director, told the board the ordinance (recorded as Ordinance 26 22 79) creates a special‑education school land‑use category limited to buildings that are at least 75 percent former office space, excludes warehouse conversions, requires that one special‑education school be at least one mile from another and includes a sunset provision intended to prevent proliferation. Skinner said the change responds to an applicant request and was directed by the city commission.

Board members pressed staff on safety, traffic and tax consequences. One member noted the proposed Commerce Way site appears to lack outdoor space and sits near a retention pond and active delivery access, asking, "I just don't see how this area would actually be conducive for the purposes of education." Skinner said the language is narrowly tailored and that the city cannot prevent a property owner from later purchasing a site and seeking tax‑exempt status if it becomes school‑owned.

Kristen Sawan, who identified herself as head of school for the applicant, said the proposal is for a dyslexia remediation program using the Orton‑Gillingham method, not a typical large K‑12 campus. "We're talking 4 to 6 kids, small‑group instruction," Sawan said, describing the operation as nonprofit and designed to reach students who, she said, lack appropriate options in Seminole County. She said the school's current campus in Longwood operates on about an 11‑acre site and that the new location could grow to perhaps 60–100 students over several years. Sawan said transportation options include 15‑passenger vans and coordination with the main campus; she also described a back area with about 12 parking spaces that could be used for outdoor lunchtime.

During the public hearing, board members asked whether the city has other special‑education schools within the Industrial Core and whether the ordinance’s operational rules (including an operational requirement to secure the one‑mile protection) would effectively be first‑in‑operation. Staff replied the one‑mile and office‑space requirements are intended to limit future conversions and that an applicant would typically need to be operating to claim the exclusion.

After discussion the board closed the public hearing and voted. The roll call recorded Howe, Perez and Cardwell voting yes and Palmer and Cuadrado voting no, producing a 3–2 vote to forward the recommendation to the city commission for final action. The board’s action is a recommendation and does not itself adopt the ordinance; the city commission will make the final decision.