Library Board Supports Conceptual Plan to Build Two Branches

High Level Plans Pique Interest But Require More Details

Book Drop Installation in Horizon West by August 1

Exciting news for Horizon Westers came early in the meeting when it was announced that a new book return drop box would be installed in the Hamlin area of the Horizon West Town Center by August 1, 2021. The drop-box will be located in the Publix plaza in front of State Farm Insurance on Shoreside Way. The drop box makes returning borrowed books and multimedia materials simpler and more convenient, especially for items ordered through the library’s free home delivery service. 



Expansion of Home Delivery (MAYL) to 34787

Since 1974, the Library has been delivering requests to home doorsteps! Library customers are eligible for home delivery of library items through MAYL (Materials Access from Your Library). Most deliveries are made by Priority Express Parcel to your home, while the remainder are sent by US Mail.  At the meeting, the Board of Trustees announced that MAYL will be extended to serve all of 34787 zip code.



Background on Horizon West and Lake Nona Libraries

Plans for a Horizon West library branch have been in the works for several years. More recently, in 2020 a parcel of land was selected at the intersection of Tiny Road and Hamlin Groves Trail as the preferred location for the Horizon West branch. In January of 2021, the Board voted to commit to purchase the parcel, which sits at the northeast corner of the planned Horizon West Regional Park.

With OCLS having funding to build one library at a time, the plan was to construct Horizon West (estimated by fall of 2025) and subsequently to begin construction on a Lake Nona branch.

But for the past several months, residents of Lake Nona have created a compelling grassroots movement to propel plans to build a Lake Nona library branch sooner than the anticipated 5-8 years in the future. And with support from Orange County and City of Orlando officials, a proposal was brought to the OCLS Board to suggest a possible path to funding both locations.

High Level Plans Pique Interest but Require More Details

OCLS Library Director Mary Anne Hodel introduced the presentation by saying these staffers “thought broadly and creatively as to how to two branches could become a reality.” Then, Laurie Botts, Division Manager for the City of Orlando Real Estate Department and Alex D. Feinman, Assistant Manager, Real Estate Management Division, co-presented the inventive solution their teams have worked together on.

In Horizon West, rather than purchase the parcel at Tiny Road in Horizon West, staff suggested obtaining the land through a ground lease. OCLS would lease the land and construct their own facility, parking lot and infrastructure at the Regional-Park-adjacent location. The parcel is currently jointly owned by the City of Orlando and Orange County.

In Lake Nona, the City of Orlando would bear the construction costs of the building, parking and infrastructure and will later lease the completed facility to OCLS at market value. The library location will be adjacent to the future Southeast Orlando Government Center.

The presenters suggested this model would allow OCLS budget to accommodate both projects simultaneously; however, no cost estimates, appraisals or forecast projections were available to the Board at this time.

As a first step, the Board voted to pursue working with Orange County and City of Orlando for libraries at both locations. These parties are now authorized to begin drafting the real estate deals required.

What’s Next?

Financial details surrounding this complex series of deals will be brought forward at future OCLS Board of Trustees meetings. Surveys, appraisals, and real estate documents will need to be prepared before negotiations between the governments can begin. Comments made by County and City staff indicated this process will take several months to a year.

The Board will carefully review and evaluate the financial feasibility of the plan with OCLS Chief Financial Officer Kristopher Shoemaker and OCLS staff.

If the OCLS Board approves, Orange County’s Board of County Commissioners and City of Orlando Commissioners will also need to approve the series of land deals needed to make this happen.

In the meantime, OCLS Board President Crockett Bohannon reiterated the importance of maintaining the commitment to move forward with a Horizon West branch regardless of what happens with the conceptual plan to fund both.  



The Bottom Line

• A Horizon West branch is still planned for the Tiny Road / Hamlin Groves Trail location.

• County and City staff are now officially directed to work together to obtain specifics and financial details to support their conceptual plan for funding both Horizon West and Lake Nona branches in the near term. This will require significant work by both government entities and may take several months.
  

• The OCLS Board will review these details in the future once they are compiled.

• If the proposed deals are approved by OCLS, Orange County Board of County Commissioners and City of Orlando Commissioners will also need to formally approve them.

• Residents can stay engaged on the plans by attending OCLS Board meetings and continuing to follow Horizon West Happenings coverage via our website and social media channels, like Horizon West Happenings Facebook group.