International Drive has a cohesive development plan, more than two years after district business leaders and county officials first started meeting to discuss the tourism corridor’s future.
The plan was unanimously approved at the Orange County Board of County Commissioners meeting Tuesday. The plan, called the I-Drive 2040 Vision Plan, will shape construction on International Drive similarly to that of traditional urban cores, with buildings set closer to the street and transit options improved for conventioneers and tourists.
It also updates county codes and ordinances to reflect the growth happening in the district, including future amusement attractions and housing.
Orange County Planner Alberto Vargas made Tuesday’s presentation at the commissioner’s meeting, concluding the effort he’s led since late 2014.
“This is a real win today for Mr. Vargas,” said Melanie Becker, Universal Orlando’s Director of Government Relations.
Becker said Tuesday that Universal leaders fully support the changes. Multiple times during the months-long review process, Universal Orlando leaders had spoken out against the plan — including approved heights of amusement attractions planned for development in the district.
Under the approved plan, helicopter tours, commonly called helitours, are not permitted in the district. It was unclear whether that means existing tours’ operations will be forced to close or just that new ones will be prevented from opening.
Meetings of the Convention Plaza District Review Group, which was tasked with writing the regulating plan for the I-Drive district, started after Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs requested a comprehensive plan for the county’s tourism district.
The plan divides I-Drive into eight districts, defining each with a certain set of rules and acceptable land uses. District categories are the convention center, retail & hospitality, entertainment, SeaWorld, Destination Parkway, Universal Boulevard, Rosen and Shingle Creek, and Universal Orlando.
Several developers voluntarily redesigned projects last year to preemptively meet the code approved Tuesday.
Leaders of the Andretti Indoor Karting & Games location, being built on Universal Boulevard near the Orange County Convention Center, moved their facility closer to the road.
Eddie Hamann, managing member of Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, said the change was costly and delayed the project by several months, but made sense to comply with the future vision of the district.
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