Plans to build hundreds of homes in an undeveloped part of Winter Park in Seminole County are back on the table. A developer wants to build more than 700 homes on the San Pedro Center property near Howell Branch Road.

  • Proposed Winter Park development back on table
  • More than 700 homes planned for San Pedro Center property
  • Developer wants to reduce age restriction

Chris Maness, who lives just one property over from where the plans would be built, spends a lot of time on landscaping and taking care of his animals.

“That takes a lot of time and love,” said Maness.

But Maness is worried about the plans changing the neighborhood’s landscape that he says makes his property the serene atmosphere that it is.

“Once that’s gone, this is going to change forever,” said Maness.

In 2010, Seminole County Commissioners decided to allow the Catholic Archdiocese to build on the property, but only allow older residents. In 2014 they rejected a plan by the diocese to reduce the 55-and-over age restriction. Now, a developer wants to reduce that age restriction all together.

Maness says younger people means a lot more traffic.

“So imagine you use Howell Branch on a daily basis, and now there’s going to be 750 cars added in the morning and afternoon time, during rush hour,” said Maness.

The plan’s applicant, Richard Jerman, says he’s trying to work with residents who live in the area.  The new plans don’t include a hotel, and cut commercial space and a planned assisted living facility to less than half of what was originally planned.  Developers also have held three public hearings.

But Maness believes the current plans will wipe out a natural wetland and lead to flooding on his property whenever it rains.

“The property has unique characteristics that need to be understood before it’s too late, because once development takes place there’s no going back,” said Maness.

Seminole County Commissioners postponed a public hearing on the matter Tuesday.  A planning and zoning board must look at it next week before county commissioners can consider it.