Virginia & Lake Highland Transportation & Land Use Study
As a City, we have focused on strategic growth to ensure that where growth happens and what type of growth happens is quality development that benefits our community through a variety of uses and both preserves and enhances quality of life for our residents.
Key to this effort is working with residents and businesses to develop long-range visioning and planning guidelines that further support and ensure this strategic growth. By planning for strategic growth in this way, the City continues to focus on ensuring we preserve Orlando’s neighborhoods and residential areas while we grow as a City.
The City studied the Virginia Drive corridor and neighborhoods in the surrounding area. This area has become a popular and vibrant location that continues to attract new small businesses as well as residential redevelopment. The Virginia Drive/Lake Highland Transportation and Land Use study looked at transportation infrastructure opportunities to enhance the area for all modes of travel using our complete streets approach. Additionally, as part of the study, the City obtained input from the community to develop a vision for the future of this area together with a focus on maintaining the character of the area and vitality of the businesses there. The study came up with 51 strategies, one of which was to adopt guidelines for new growth and redevelopment.
December 2017 update
On November 13, 2017, the City adopted the Virginia Drive Special Plan which fulfills the strategy of adopting guidelines for new growth and development. The Special Plan addresses complete streets principles for the following roadways: Virginia Drive, Brookhaven Drive, Alden Road, and Lake Highland Drive. The plan also establishes urban design standards for development of property, including height limits. To read the plan, click here. Please direct questions to Michelle Beamon Robinson at michelle.robinson@orlando.gov.
Community Outreach & Public Input
MPB Meeting – August 15, 2017. The Municipal Planning Board (MPB) will hear the Virginia Drive Special Plan (read the staff report).
MPB Meeting – February 21, 2017. The Municipal Planning Board (MPB) accepted the Virginia Drive/Lake Highland Transportation and Land Use study.
From 2016:
Community Meeting #1 – August 1, 2016
Community Meeting #2 – September 20, 2016
Community Meeting #3 – October 26, 2016
Questions
For additional information or questions, please contact Elisabeth Dang at elisabeth.dang@orlando.gov.
Project Details & Updates