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Chris Cheshire
Fruitland Park City Commission: Mayor, District 4
Seat as listed on the city's council page, read 2026-11-03.
Record
Meetings attended 34 of 34Arrived late 0Motions made 1Motions seconded 0Split votes 4Recorded no votes 0
Counted from the Fruitland Park City Commission minutes posted by the city, 2025-01-09 to 2026-10-08. Minutes post weeks after each meeting; the most recent meetings are not yet included.
Split votes and attendance (4)
- 2026-10-08 Vote
Split vote 4-1; the council to DENY the final reading of Ordinance 2026-011. Mayor Cheshire called for public comments. James P. Logan, owner of property adjacent to the proposed annexation, expressed support for the project. He stated that, as a nearby resident, he would be directly impacted by the development and expressed confidence in the developer. He requested that the City Commission reconsider its decision to deny the annexation. Richard Wohlfarth, Developer, provided a presentation outlining the proposed annexation, noting that one parcel is a complete enclave and another is a partial enclave. He clarified that the Commission's consideration was limited to annexation of the parcel entirely surrounded by City limits. He discussed his collaboration with Mr. Logan and the City in securing property for a future water treatment plant and addressed existing water consumption and capacity. He indicated that land use and zoning matters would be presented for consideration at a future meeting. Mr. Wohlfarth noted that his team would be willing to meet with Lake County to support signalization at South Grays Airport Road and US 441. He requested reconsideration to table the item to the December meeting. Page3of8 October 8, 2026, Regular Minutes Mayor Cheshire expressed surprise that the annexation was placed on the agenda prior to the November 3 election, given the Commission's previously expressed concerns regarding Amendment 3. Commissioner Raysin expressed concern about the traffic issues that would be created by the proposed development. Mr. Wohlfarth commented that if the item were tabled, he would return to the commission with a proposed solution for the flow traffic. He acknowledged the issue with trying to get out onto US 441 from S Grays Airport Road. Mr. Raysin asked if there was any alternate access points. Mr. Wohlfarth said there may be an opportunity to use Register Road, and the developer would be amenable to making that connection immediately. Carl Yauk, 1123 Ritter Road, expressed opposition to the annexation and objected to tabling the ordinance. Mitchell Langley, 101 S. Valley Road, opposed the annexation, discussed ordinance adoption procedures, and referenced a recent annexation lawsuit involving the Town of Lady Lake. Mayor Cheshire asked City Attorney Geraci-Carver to explain the ordinance adoption process under Florida Statutes. Ms. Geraci-Carver stated that she was unaware of any statutory requirements inconsistent with the City's established procedures. Source - 2026-06-11 Vote
Split vote 3-1; the council to approve the Second Reading of Ordinance 2025-025. During public comment, several residents raised concerns about annexation, infrastructure, and growth management. Carl Yauk, 1123 Ritter Road, questioned whether the City was legally required to approve the annexation, to which City Attorney Anita Geraci-Carver clarified that approval is not mandatory. He also raised concerns regarding traffic impacts, school overcrowding, and how growth decisions are made in Fruitland Park. Additional speakers focused on infrastructure and capacity concerns. Chuck Padgett, 1740 Myrtle Lake Avenue, criticized the parking design, arguing that the proposed spaces would Page 5 of 9 June 11, 2026, Regular Minutes not accommodate the number of vehicles anticipated, and urged developers to contribute more toward road improvements. Source - 2026-06-11 Vote
Split vote 3-1; the council to approve the Second Reading of Ordinance 2025-026. Source - 2026-06-11 Vote
Split vote 3-1; the council to approve the Second Reading of Ordinance 2025-027. Mayor Cheshire called for public comments. Sarah McCallum again voiced concerns regarding the annexation notices and the broader tax implications of the proposed development. She argued that converting a commercially zoned C-2 parcel to residential use was not in the City’s best interest, particularly given existing tax concerns. She stressed the importance of evaluating the City’s overall tax base and urged the Commission to reject the commercial zoning change. Carl Yauk reiterated his concern about who should guide growth in Fruitland Park, questioning whether decisions should be made by developers or by the residents and the City’s long-term interests. Responding to the concerns, Richard Wohlfarth, representing the applicant, clarified that the C-2 parcel in question is primarily frontage that will become right of way. He stated that while the project could result in an estimated 30% reduction in potential tax revenue, the Page 7 of 9 June 11, 2026, Regular Minutes development would still provide a net tax benefit to the City. Addressing infrastructure concerns, he explained that the existing water plant has adequate capacity, with the primary issue being system redundancy. He noted the new water plant would address that need for both current and future developments. Mr. Wohlfarth added that construction is anticipated to begin in January, with the subdivision taking approximately one year to complete, meaning the first residential units would likely not be available until 2028. He also responded to concerns regarding driveway and parking capacity, stating the design would provide adequate room for vehicles. Vice Mayor Patrick DeGrave asked about language in the Master Development Agreement (MDA) concerning infrastructure, specifically sewer capacity, and questioned how the development would proceed if the sewer plant is not yet operational. Mr. Wohlfarth explained that the MDA provides that capacity is not reserved or guaranteed until a developer or builder pays for it, meaning they do not secure ownership of that capacity in advance. Several residents spoke in opposition to continued development and annexation, emphasizing concerns about infrastructure, community character, and quality of life. Mitchell Langley stated that development is moving forward without infrastructure being prioritized and urged the City Commission to put residents’ interests first. Ken Hutchinson, 107 E Lavista Street, expressed frustration that while more development is being proposed, existing areas within Fruitland Park are being neglected and deteriorating. Chuck Padgett referenced previously approved developments near his home, describing them as an eyesore, and thanked Mayor Chris Cheshire for opposing the Vita Serena ordinances. Vincent Polite, 1908 Bell Creek Loop, spoke in favor of preserving Fruitland Park’s small- town character, urging the City to focus on resolving current issues rather than approving more growth. He later questioned how much outreach commissioners had done with constituents before placing the item on the agenda. Shayna Grunewald, 929 Hawk Landing, argued that residents’ preferences for larger lots are often ignored by developers and said the annexation itself is the central issue. Source
All motions made and seconded (1)
- 2026-07-09 Motion
Moved; the council to deny Resolution 2026- 034. Source
Dated public-record events, each with its source. Opinions and private life are out of scope.