ORLANDO, FL – January 6, 2020 – Land use attorney Jason W. Searl, shareholder in GrayRobinson’s Orlando law firm office, was featured in The Apopka Chief article "City Could Face Lawsuit Over Land Use Decision." The article covers the Apopka City Council’s 4-1 vote to approve a future land use amendment that would allow the doubling of dwelling units per acre, potentially leading to student overcrowding in nearby schools.
Searl represents the developer for Hamrick Estates, a proposed single-family housing sub-division on a currently vacant 35-acre tract of land located north of West Ponkan Road and west of Mount Stirling Avenue. Under the proposed future land amendment, two dwelling units per acre are permitted, allowing for a maximum of 70 dwelling units in the sub-division.
Searl notes in the article that the first reading of the application was done in December 2018. "It’s been quite a long process. We’re making our best efforts to advance the process and move timely," he said. During the conversation between elected officials and attorneys, they discussed documented agreements, impact fees, and nuances of legal matters. City attorney Joe Byrd told the City Council it’s a matter of whether OCPS and Orange County government, or the Hamrick Estates developer prefers to "wrestle" in court once the vote is cast. Read the full story on The Apopka Chief here.