MAITLAND, Fla. — A tense meeting in Maitland lasted until early Tuesday morning, but in the end, the city council approved a controversial development to create a new downtown.
The vote came in just before 1:30 a.m.
"Tonight will be a turning point for our city. Maitland is going to change by this vote unless we do something to stop it," said resident Diane Mills.
There was a lot of vocal opposition to the Maitland City Centre project during a full house meeting at City Hall Monday night.
The project would transform an old Winn Dixie plaza into a downtown district with shops, restaurants and residences. The plan includes 220 upscale apartments and 35,000 square feet of commercial space.
The shopping plaza that's being replaced has been a vacant deteriorating eyesore for many years along busy Highway 1792. It's a road that is expected to get busier with the new development.
That issue has turned out to be one of the biggest points of controversy in the $65 million project.
"It does not meet the citizens' wishes for a traffic minimizing and pedestrian friendly development on a scale and character that complements downtown Maitland," said a resident during the meeting.
The measure passed by a vote of 3 to 1.
WFTV
