Plans approved for west Orange County relief high school

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County commissioners approved a plan to build a West Orange relief high school late Tuesday night during a packed public hearing.

County commissioners and the school district have been at odds over the proposed school since 2013. The case was taken to court and a judge ruled in favor of the school district in January but said the county could impose restrictions.

At issue was the likely increase in noise and traffic that a new high school and football stadium would bring to a quiet area. Many residents have spoken out against the proposal in past public meetings.

"I think we did the right thing and reached the reasonable compromise," Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said.

Raw: Mayor Jacobs discusses relief school agreement

The approved plan calls for the high school to be built near Winter Garden Vineland and Ficquette roads, but it won't have an on-campus football stadium. Jacobs said the off-campus football stadium will cost more initially, but will bring long-term savings and spare residents from unwanted noise.

"In some ways it's an efficiency move because we wouldn't use it 100 percent of the time. The school district wouldn't use it 100 percent of the time. Together, we will more efficiently use that space," Jacobs said.

Parents told Channel 9 they were glad an agreement was reached, even though it won't include a stadium on campus.

"I'm really happy for the (school) site. Hope to see them digging ASAP," parent Judy Paulsen said.

"We would have rather had the stadium built on the site of the school, but at this point, we need the school and we need it now. And that's what we're going to get, and we're happy," parent Debbie Milazzo said.

Although the relief school is almost a done deal, Tuesday's agreement still has to be approved by school board members and the county's board of zoning adjustment.

WFTV