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Idecided to run for District 1 Commissioner for a
very sincere reason: I love where I live. I love my
community; I raised my family here. During the
election cycle, I paid very close attention to people's
concerns about the infrastructure and management
of our fast-growing corner of Central Florida.
Improving the quality of life here in the years to
come is important, and we seem to be at a crossroads
in our economic, environmental, and social development.
My campaign was a grassroots underdog
movement, yet the people of west Orange County
paid attention. The crux of my message centered on
environmental concerns, but what 2020 showed us is
you can't separate sustainability from the health and
safety of our communities and citizens. Many people
that I had the opportunity to get to know during
the campaign period moved to this area because
they wanted a walkable, bikeable area. They love
the proximity of the West Orange Trail, they love the
tree canopy, they love the idea of having park spaces
built into their community. Their goals for good environmental
stewardship and good growth were very
much aligned with my policy goals.
I was sworn in on December 8, 2020 and hit the
ground running, taking deep dive meetings with the
various department heads in Orange County. When
we look at some of the concerns that residents have
in west Orange County, they are often about the
differences between what they were told when they
moved here—that there was a plan in place—and
the reality, which sometimes doesn't reflect that plan.
I hear the frustration. It's my job, now, to ask the
difficult questions. In the Orange County code there's
a lot of protections to make sure variances aren't
given out as favors. But unfortunately, oftentimes
the applicants know exactly how to word things
to get around the planning, and the outcome isn't
necessarily favorable for residents.
Last year was challenging, but we learned so much
and are bringing that perspective into 2021. Patience,
grace, and open communication are the themes that
drive everything I do—and are the things I hope to
see in the community. The top of my list for 2021?
More community dialogues and involvement. I want
to encourage every resident to stay up-to-date on
Vision 2050 —an initiative that will guide how and
where growth will occur in Orange County during the
next three decades.
My office will be establishing neighborhood meetings
to hear back from people on an ongoing
basis. Quality of life is built upon addressing the
nitty-gritty, as in, "Why is the developer not bringing
our village center to life the way we were promised?"
Or, "Why was this turn lane not a place where they
put a light?" These types of issues are a priority to me
and addressing them with care is why I was hired.
I am also very actively working alongside
Orange County's Sustainability Chief and will
be setting up meetings with the Parks and Recreation
Department to make sure that we are capitalizing on
the natural gems in District 1. We have opportunities
to make this an even-more-desirable area for
residents as well as an eco-tourism destination. My
goal is to leverage state or federal grants or funding
to acquire additional lands for active greenspace.
Our people are looking at environmentally sensitive
COMMISSIONER’S CORNER
DISTRICT 1 • HORIZON WEST
Visit: OCFL.net/District1
Download: OCFL 311 app
byNicole Wilson
District 1 Commissioner,
Orange County, FL
Your engagement is essential!
A comprehensive plan for smart, thriving and healthy
growth in our region, Vision 2050 relies on an open
conversation with residents to establish a shared
future path for Orange County.
There are many ways to participate, including
surveys, virtual workshops, public hearings and events.
Learn More at:
HorizonWestMagazine.com/OC2050
/District1
/OC2050