One of the questions I often receive at HOA and Community meetings is, “How can we learn about proposed developments in our area?” A simple way is go to my City of Orlando-District 1 website.

Big or small, I list upcoming applications in District 1 scheduled for the Municipal Planning Board (MPB) on my website link at http://www.cityoforlando.net/district01/key-municipal-planning-board-items/. At this site, you can review the request, see maps of the impacted area, and review our planning staff’s analysis.

The MPB is an advisory board to the City Council and is comprised of nine volunteer members. The MPB holds public hearings on the third Tuesday of every month to review and report recommendations to the City Council on such things as planned developments, re-zoning, annexations, conditional use permits, etc. The recommendations and decisions of the MPB are subject to the final approval of the City Council, and remember, just because a project is approved does not mean it will ultimately get built.

City of Orlando Commissioner Jim Gray can be reached by email at Jim.Gray@CityofOrlando.net or by calling 407-246-2001.