Dewar Nurseries, a family business that has operated for over six decades, is planning to sell a portion of its Apopka property to a homebuilder after receiving the green light for a residential project on the land.
The Apopka City Council has unanimously approved a rezoning and future land use amendment for 38.6 acres at 724 W. Keen Rd. The vote changes the future land use from agriculture to residential medium-low and the zoning from agriculture to residential multi-family zoning. The new zoning designation will allow for a mix of apartments, townhomes, and single-family houses at a density of up to 7.5 dwelling units per acre, or 289 units.
David Gritton, Managing Partner at Park Lake Development, representing the landowners, said that the property will end up with townhomes and single-family homes and will probably have a lot count in the low 200s.
Gritton said the owners have “received numerous offers from most of the major homebuilders during this process. Now that we have received our land use approval, we will be looking to select a group.”
Dewar Nurseries grows flowers and fruit for retailers in more than 20 states. The nursery plans to sell nearly 40 acres to a homebuilder. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel)
Alex Dewar founded Dewar Nurseries in 1963, and his son Bill Dewar later joined the family business, which grows flowers and fruit for retailers in more than 20 states. The company later expanded to other locations in Florida, including Laxahatchee, Mount Dora, Jacksonville, and Winter Garden. In 2017, Dewar Nurseries expanded its national presence with the addition of a satellite location near Bakersfield, California. However, the Apopka location is where the family business started.
The Apopka nursery will remain operational, as only a portion of the Dewar family’s land is up for sale. The property that is slated for residential development is located across the street from Dewar Nurseries, and is currently vacant.
Development interest has grown in the area over the years, as the supply of vacant land in the vicinity shrinks and Apopka’s population continues to grow. The city has a population of roughly 63,000 people, a more than 50% increase from 2010 when Apopka had just 41,500 residents.
“Over the years, Dewar Nurseries had received offers to redevelop their property. While the interest was there, they prioritized maintaining control over the process to ensure it aligned with the needs of the surrounding community while also getting to a successful outcome,” Gritton added.
The residential development is planned for nearly 40 acres on the south side of Keene Road, between 429 and 414. (Orange County Property Appraiser)
Publix will open a nearby store in The Shoppes at East Shore, an upcoming mixed-use shopping center at the northeast corner of W. Keene Road and Ocoee Apopka Road. A marketing brochure from developer WMG Development reveals plans for a 48,387-square-foot Publix store, a liquor store, a dental office, and 12,300 square feet of additional retail space.
WMG Development broke ground on the project earlier this year and plans to open the retail center in Q4 of 2026.
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