And so they did. Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve the letter of intent, which enables them to discuss the project with the developer. City leaders simultaneously voted to explore options for a resident referendum on a special assessment to have the city purchase the property and possibly develop it into a park.  

District 4 Commissioner Colin Sharman told VoxPopuli that city staff first has to determine what the land costs before asking residents if they’d support a special assessment to pay for it.

“ We need more information and details, but the intent would be that we'll come back to the voters with something that's reasonable for an assessment and let them decide,” he said after the meeting. “Then we’ll probably have some public discussion and get feedback and then put it out for referendum.”

Meanwhile, Mayor John Rees said they were a long way from any agreements.

“It’s a conversation, and I’m okay with the conversation,” he said, adding that he would prefer the cows remain, but “that’s not gonna happen.”  

District 2 Commissioner Iliana Ramos Jones added that she “also loves the cows,” but saw the value in opening up a dialogue. “To communicate, to go back and forth is a good thing,” she said.

District 1 Commissioner Lisa Bennett was the sole No vote, largely reflecting the mood of residents.

“ We don't need a 5,000-seat stadium,” said resident Allison Butler Painter. “You might be able to take that down to Lake Nona where they have plenty of land down there. The east side of Orange County, they have gobs of land down there … But as a Winter Garden resident, born and raised, I don't see this project being what it is as of this right here. If I could vote against it, I would vote against it.”

“This doesn't sound like it's gonna include homes for the families on the east side that have been looking forward to this,” said resident Gretchen Tope. “Just a personal opinion, but that's one of our responsibilities as a whole city. We're no longer east and west. We’re One Winter Garden. Thank you.”

Lauren Flimster said she liked the public recreation aspects of the proposal, like the dog park and the pickle ball courts, but that she’d like to see proposals without the hotel and soccer stadium “to make it more for the community that already lives here … and less about bringing in the transient visitors that clog up our roads.”

Resident Heather Fraga echoed her concerns about increased traffic.

“ Our infrastructure is at capacity, specifically the 429 and even our little tiny stretch of the turnpike,” she said. “I don't see how we can feasibly add in a large stadium with 5,000 seats and a five-story hotel, not to mention the shops and restaurants, and hope that our sweet little town stays intact.”

Fraga added that she’s apprehensive about increased noise too. She said she already hears noise from events at the Crooked Can coming from the west and Ocoee’s Music Festival coming from the east.

“A few nights a year is agreeable,” she said, “but a few times a week would definitely be a nuisance.”