Eatonville Town Council votes against zoning change for developer

EATONVILLE, Fla. – The Eatonville City Council on Tuesday voted in opposition to altering the zoning for brand new growth on the previous web site of the Robert Hungerford Preparatory College, the primary college for Black Youngsters in Central Florida.

Round 100 folks confirmed up for the zoning assembly to debate the way forward for roughly 100 acres of land positioned alongside Kennedy Blvd. and Wymore Rd. Most of the audio system had been very keen about dwelling in Eatonville and need to preserve their city’s historical past preserved for generations to come back.

Individuals who stay in Eatonville, one of many first self-governing all-black municipalities within the nation, had been very involved about growth affecting their tradition and dropping land to properties during which they stated they could not afford to stay. 

“It’s time to come back collectively for a win,” stated Mayor Angie Gardner. “Meaning we come along with concepts to finance the property. We come collectively if that chance arises. It’s not over, if the developer ought to stroll away we have now one other alternative.”

Eatonville resident Rinc Burgmon stated he’s glad the council voted in opposition to the zoning change and appears ahead to deliberate growth. “To work collectively to get what we want and wish, to get our neighborhood – one of many 15 black communities surviving into the centuries – to observe.”

Mayor Gardner stated Hungerford Park Improvement was going to purchase the land from the Orange County College District, for $14.2 million and Eatonville would have obtained round $4 million from the acquisition.

The builders can nonetheless construct on the positioning if the college district indicators off on the contract on March 31. Nonetheless, the mayor stated it is going to be scaled again to round 300 properties. The developer also can resolve to not go ahead.