Casselberry City Commission Ordinance 26-1641: Brightwater Property Rezoning to Recreation and Open Space on November 16

The Casselberry City Commission will hold a public hearing on Ordinance 26-1641 at its meeting on Monday, November 16, 2026. The ordinance would rezone three city-owned parcels near Triplet Lake from R-12.5 (Low Density Single-Family) to ROS (Recreation and Open Space). The parcels total about 15 acres. One of them is the Brightwater property at 700 South Lost Lake Lane. The item is the second and final reading. The Commission approved the first reading on October 26, 2026, by a 3-1 vote. No final decision has been made.

Where the Item Falls on the Agenda

The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers on the first floor of Casselberry City Hall, 95 Triplet Lake Drive, Casselberry. Ordinance 26-1641 is item 11.A under Public Hearings. The application number is ZMA 26-03.

The agenda lists the order for public hearings:

• City staff speaks first.

• The applicant or requesting party speaks second.

• The public speaks third.

• Brief rebuttals may follow if appropriate.

• The City Commission then makes a motion, discusses the item and acts.

The Three Parcels

The City Manager memorandum states that all three parcels are owned by the City. It lists them as follows:

• 535 Queens Mirror Circle, about 2.70 acres. The memo states that this parcel is vacant.

• 700 South Lost Lake Lane, about 8.93 acres. This is the Brightwater property.

• Parcel ID 09-21-30-5BO-0A00-001C, about 3.36 acres. The memo states that this parcel is vacant and is part of the City's golf course.

The staff report describes the land around the parcels. Single-family homes in the Lost Lake, Triplet Lake Shores and Queens Mirror Circle subdivisions sit to the north, east and south. Triplet Lake lies to the west. The Casselberry Golf Course is on the other side of the lake.

Background on the Brightwater Property

The memo states that the Brightwater property served as the original Casselberry family estate around the time the City was founded. The City bought the property for $1.25 million in 2021 under Resolution 21-3243. The memo states that the purchase was meant to improve blighted conditions caused by long-term vacancy on a historically significant property.

The City approved the Brightwater Final Conceptual Master Plan by Resolution 22-3306 in May 2022. Since then, the memo states, the property has had several renovations, such as roof repairs.

Why Staff Requested the Rezoning

The memo states that the City Manager and the Community Development Director asked for the change in anticipation of a future recreational site. The current R-12.5 zoning is intended solely for single-family homes under Section 2-5.2 of the Unified Land Development Regulations (ULDR). Staff calls the rezoning a necessary first step. The memo also states that the rezoning will help the City pursue future grant funding.

The staff report states that no official plans for development have been confirmed. It states that any future design will prioritize preserving the natural environment. Any development would first need site plan review under the ROS building criteria in ULDR Table 2-5.4.

What ROS Zoning Allows

The memo states that the ROS district is meant to serve existing and future needs for recreational sites. Staff describes the district as one that generally precludes substantial development of any kind. It states that the ROS designation typically reflects a setting similar to, or less intensive than, a typical single-family district.

The report quotes Comprehensive Plan Policy FLU 1.13. That policy allows a maximum of 30% impervious area in Recreation and Open Space areas. It also states that development in these areas must meet state rules, provide mitigation, be in the public interest and match any adopted recreation master plans.

Staff Findings on the Comprehensive Plan

The staff report reviews the request against several Comprehensive Plan policies. Its findings include:

• The parcels are in one of the few areas of the City without recreational amenities within the service radius shown on Map ROE-M3.

• Staff plans to add the Brightwater properties to the City's list of recreation sites on Map ROE-M1 at the next plan revision.

• The parcels have many healthy trees, and staff states that tree preservation will be a priority under ULDR Article XIV.

• The City may seek Community Development Block Grant funding if a future project meets those grant rules.

• Staff states that site access will be designed so it does not harm traffic flow in the nearby neighborhood.

The report states that City water and sewer service is available. Police service comes from the City and fire service from Seminole County. Access points for cars and pedestrians have not been set. Staff states that a school concurrency review is not needed because the new zoning is not residential.

The Review So Far

The Planning and Zoning Commission, acting as the Local Planning Agency, heard the request at an advertised public hearing on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The memo states that the hearing was advertised on June 25, 2026. That board voted 4-0 to recommend approval.

The City Commission approved Ordinance 26-1641 on first reading on Monday, October 26, 2026, by a 3-1 vote. The packet lists three attachments to the item: the ordinance, the advertisement and a business impact estimate.

Staff Recommendation

The memo was prepared by Christopher Schmidt, Community Development Director. It states: "The City Manager and Community Development Director recommend approval of Ordinance 26-1641 on second and final reading."

How to Take Part

The agenda states that the public is invited to attend. Citizens may be heard during public hearings. The agenda states that persons who need ADA assistance should contact the ADA Coordinator 48 hours before the meeting at (407) 262-7700, ext. 1150.

The agenda also includes the notice required by Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes. Anyone who plans to appeal a decision will need a record of the proceedings and may need to make sure a verbatim record is made. Copies of the agenda packet are available through a public records request to the City Clerk's Office at (407) 262-7700, ext. 1133, or cityclerk@casselberry.org.

The Casselberry City Commission will hold the public hearing on Ordinance 26-1641 on Monday, November 16, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., City Commission Chambers, 1st Floor, Casselberry City Hall, 95 Triplet Lake Drive, Casselberry.