Apartment project proposed near Sanford across from Boombah Sports Complex

A Miami-based development company with a growing Central Florida presence is looking to bring a high-density multifamily community with workforce housing to land across from the Boombah Sports Complex near the Orlando Sanford International Airport.

MAS Development has filed a preliminary application to Seminole County for an apartment complex on 11.6 acres along the south side of E. Lake Mary Boulevard, east of Skyway Drive. The property is currently zoned for agricultural uses, but a number of residential projects are nearby with more on the way.

On neighboring land to the west, Toll Brothers recently built a 70-lot subdivision of single-family homes called Parkview Place and has approval to add 84 townhomes next door.

Leaders with MAS Development explained their proposed project in an August 29 letter to county planning staff.

“The intended use of the subject property is to be developed into high-density residential use, not exceeding three stories, with amenities such as a clubhouse and pool,” the letter said. “This is a growing area of Seminole County with new developments and job centers, such as the Orlando Sanford International Airport and Boombah Sports Complex.”

The Boombah Sports Complex, completed by Seminole County in 2016, spans 102 acres and includes 15 multi-purpose fields that can also be used for baseball, softball soccer, football and lacrosse. In its first year of operation, it attracted more than 100,000 athletes and spectators, generated more than 36,000 hotel room stays, and made a more than $50 million impact on the local economy, according to county records.

County officials have discussed expanding the sports complex to add a $61 million indoor venue that could host basketball, martial arts, volleyball, cheerleading and other sporting events.

With all the growth happening in the vicinity, MAS Development leaders say it’s a good place to deliver a mix of housing options.

“The subject property offers the opportunity to supply a diversity of residential options to support population and employment growth in the area,” the letter says. “Based on the analysis of our management company and their site visit, it was indicated that there is a great need for workforce housing options at this location.”

Application materials submitted to the county do not specify how many units MAS is looking to develop on the site. At a Sept. 20 development review meeting, Logan Opsahl, an attorney with the Lowndes Law Firm who’s representing the developer, got confirmation from county staff that the property has a future land use that allows for up to 30 dwelling units per acre.

For an 11-acre site, that would amount to as many as 330 units.

A preliminary concept plan drafted by Innovations Design Group shows 27 residential buildings along with a clubhouse. The area around the clubhouse includes an 1,800 square foot pool, sunshelf, playground, outdoor kitchen, fire pit and more. The concept plan also shows space for pickleball courts, basketball courts, a dog park and an open play field surrounded by a trail.

MAS has been active in the Orlando metro area. The company recently filed plans to Polk County for a Build-to-Rent community called Vistas of Davenport that calls for 262 purpose-built rental townhomes with surface parking on 56 acres along U.S. Hwy 17-92, a mile south of the Providence Golf & Country Club.

This is one of several BTR projects MAS has in the development pipeline locally. In Deltona they’re planning a BTR development called Catalina Pointe — 277 units, of which 189 are single-story cottages, and the remaining 88 are townhomes with garages.

MAS has two projects underway in Wildwood. They recently broke ground on a 28-acre site near The Villages, where they plan to build a 243-unit community of townhomes and cottages. The development is to be called Solamar Wildwood.

Also in Wildwood, MAS received site plan approval in May for Townhomes at Powell, located on Powell Road. This will be a mixed-use project with a self-storage facility and 132 dwelling units, including two-story walk-up apartments and townhomes without garages.