Board of Zoning Adjustment - 2026-02-05
Meeting Intelligence Preview
Meeting Summary
The Orange County BZA denied a variance request for a 9,082 sq ft three-story residence at 719 Pahoa Street due to incompatibility with the surrounding single-family neighborhood. The board approved three other variance requests: a summer kitchen at Islesworth (VA2602091), two pergolas at 16289 Silver Grove Boulevard (VA2602092), and lot area/shed location variances at 12514 Summerport Lane (VA2602093). A special exception for Spring of Life Methodist Church daycare (185 children) with grass parking was approved, as was a fire suppression tank variance for a Dollar General in Bithlo.
Key Decisions (8)
Variance for 3-story residence at 719 Pahoa Street
Applicant Yogaraj Bihari requested four variances for a new 9,082 sq ft, 8-bed/8-bath, three-story residence: north side setback of 5 ft (10 ft required), south side setback of 5.08 ft (10 ft required), front setback of 20 ft (35 ft required), and building height of 43.3 ft (35 ft max). Property is in A-1 Agricultural Zoning District. Staff recommended denial; board found the structure incompatible with existing one and two-story homes in the area.
Summer kitchen variance at Islesworth PD
Applicant Kevin Ball requested variance to allow accessory structure (summer kitchen) in front of principal structure on triple-frontage lot in Islesworth planned development. A 2023 variance had previously approved pool and pool deck in same location. Staff recommended approval.
Pergola setback variances at 16289 Silver Grove Boulevard
Applicant Gustavo Reyes requested variances for two existing unpermitted pergolas: Structure 1 with east side setback of 1.75 ft (5 ft required) and Structure 2 with west side setback of 2.33 ft (5 ft required). Code enforcement cited property after observing structures while investigating another violation. Three neighbors submitted letters of support. Staff recommended denial but board approved based on no opposition, aesthetic compatibility, and contractor's failure to advise on permits.
Lot area and shed location variances at 12514 Summerport Lane
Applicant Rebecca Goloff requested variance for minimum lot area of 0.74 acres (1 acre required) and to allow existing shed in front of principal structure. Property is lakefront on Lake Butler in RCE zoning district. Previous home demolished; new 6,250 sq ft residence proposed. Staff recommended approval of variance 1 and denial of variance 2, but board approved both due to wetland buffer constraints, drainage issues, and limited buildable area.
ADU conversion variance at Judy Court
Applicant Christopher Shute requested variances to convert existing garage to accessory dwelling unit: front setback of 23.49 ft (25 ft required) and side setback of 6.41 ft (7.5 ft required). Property in R-1A zoning district with 1,818 sq ft single-family residence built in 1963. Staff recommended approval.
University office special exception at 1320 N Semoran Boulevard
Applicant Paulo Ledim Jr for Green Fort University requested special exception in PO zoning district to allow university administrative office within existing two-story office building. No students on-site; university operates entirely online. Hours 8AM-6PM weekdays. Staff recommended approval.
Daycare special exception and grass parking variance for Spring of Life Methodist Church
Applicant William Kilmer for Spring of Life Methodist Church on Moss Park Road requested special exception for 185-child daycare facility and variance for grass parking. Church has operated preschool for 10+ years. New 14,670 sq ft building proposed on 15-acre A-2 zoned parcel. 16 full-time employees; hours 9AM-2PM weekdays. Staff recommended approval.
Fire suppression tank setback variances for Dollar General in Bithlo
Applicant Jeremy Anderson (Commonwealth Engineering) requested variances for fire suppression tank building at Dollar General site east of N County Road 13 and north of E Colonial Drive: north setback of 19.7 ft (25 ft required) and east side street setback of 9 ft (15 ft required). Tank required because no water lines/fire hydrants available in rural settlement area. Building substantially complete; 32,750 gallon fiberglass tank filled by on-site well. Staff recommended approval.
Development Activity (4)
Pahoa Street Residence
Proposed 9,082 sq ft living area, 3-story, 8-bed/8-bath single-family home with 4-car garage and 15x40 ft patio/balcony on each level. Lakefront lot on Lake Sherwood.
Summerport Lane Residence
Proposed 6,250 sq ft one-story single-family residence on 0.74-acre lakefront lot on Lake Butler. Previous home demolished. Includes septic system and well.
Spring of Life Methodist Church Daycare
14,670 sq ft one-story daycare building for 185 children with 16 employees on 15-acre church property. Includes grass parking expansion.
Dollar General - Bithlo
10,000 sq ft Dollar General store with on-site well, septic, and 32,750 gallon fire suppression tank. Building substantially complete.
Market Signals (4)
Housing Demand
Spring of Life Methodist Church reported long waiting lists for their preschool program, citing substantial residential growth in the Lake Nona/Moss Park Road area driving demand for childcare services.
Infrastructure
Rural settlement areas like Bithlo lack municipal water and sewer infrastructure, requiring commercial developments to install on-site wells, septic systems, and fire suppression tanks, adding significant development costs.
Housing Demand
New subdivision at Silver Grove Boulevard in Winter Garden is recently completed with builder-controlled HOA just transitioning to resident control, indicating active residential development in the area.
Sentiment
Board expressed concern about compatibility of large-scale residential development (9,000+ sq ft homes) in established single-family neighborhoods with smaller homes (1,300-3,000 sq ft).