The council voted 4-2 on June 22 to suspend the existing process. Under the change, projects covered by the moratorium may bypass the Historic Preservation Board and instead receive review through the Appearance Review Board process.

The decision directly affects development proposals in one of Orlando’s oldest historic areas and could change the path that applicants must follow before moving ahead with projects. The sources describe the review change broadly; the eligibility of individual projects and any exemptions will depend on the adopted ordinance.

What the moratorium changes

The Downtown Historic District covers eight blocks in Orlando’s city center. Before the council action, the Historic Preservation Board had a role in the district’s existing review process. The moratorium changes that role for the period covered by the policy and routes eligible proposals through the Appearance Review Board instead.

The action is a temporary policy, not a permanent removal of historic-preservation rules. It lasts 36 months, although the reviewed sources do not specify the city’s current implementation timetable or describe every project that will qualify.

WUSF reported that the council voted to suspend the existing review process for three years and that the action changes the role of the Historic Preservation Board. WKMG News 6 reported that the vote enacted a three-year pause on portions of the historic-preservation review process after public comment from residents and preservation advocates.

Redevelopment versus preservation

Supporters said the change could encourage redevelopment of vacant and underused downtown buildings. That goal fits within broader city priorities identified in Orlando’s downtown action-plan materials, which include downtown redevelopment and projects intended to support events, outdoor dining, local businesses and multimodal travel.

The practical question for property owners and developers is whether a shorter or different review path will make it easier to bring unused buildings back into service. The approved policy does not, by itself, establish that any particular building will be approved, redeveloped or demolished.

Critics warned that shifting review away from the Historic Preservation Board could put historic landmarks at greater risk. The disagreement reflects the central policy debate behind the vote: how Orlando can attract investment and address underused downtown properties while maintaining protections for historic buildings and the character of the district.

What happens next

Development proposals in the district will now have to be evaluated under the adopted moratorium and its project-specific rules. The reviewed sources do not provide a current city timetable for implementation, and they do not identify the full set of exemptions or eligibility conditions.

That means applicants, residents and preservation advocates will need to consult the ordinance and the city’s implementation materials to determine which proposals are affected and how the Appearance Review Board process will apply. The 36-month period gives the policy a defined end point, but the sources do not state whether the council plans to review or revise the arrangement before it expires.

For Orlando, the vote creates a clear but temporary shift in downtown land-use review. Its impact will depend on which projects move forward during the moratorium and whether the city can balance redevelopment goals with the preservation concerns raised during the public debate.

Second public hearing: Monday, July 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST at the Beardall Senior Center, 800 Delaney Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801.

Written comments deadline: The City is accepting public comments on the draft documents through July 6, 2026. Comments can be submitted to the City Housing and Community Development Department at City Hall, P.O. Box 4990, Orlando, FL 32802-4990, or by email at andres.burgos@orlando.gov.

If you need special accommodations or an interpreter, the notice says to contact the department by phone at 407.246.2708 at least 2 business days in advance.

What the draft Consolidated Plan and draft Action Plan are (and what they affect)

The draft Consolidated Plan analyzes data and community input to determine priority needs, and identifies the federal HUD-funded resources and strategies for CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA to address affordable housing, homelessness, community development, and other needs in Orlando.

The draft Annual Action Plan is the Program Year 2026 component that describes proposed types of activities the City would carry out under those HUD programs to meet the Consolidated Plan goals—principally for extremely low-, low-, and moderate-income people/households with incomes not exceeding 80% of the median family income for the Orlando Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Draft priorities in plain terms: the 5 goal areas

In the Consolidated Plan summary, the City says projects funded under the plan must connect to one or more of these five goal areas:

• Goal 1 — Affordable Housing: develop and preserve decent, safe, and affordable rental and owner-occupied housing.
• Goal 2 — Addressing Homelessness: prevent and reduce homelessness through emergency shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing paired with supportive services.
• Goal 3 — HIV/AIDS Services: meet needs of people living with HIV/AIDS and their families through HOPWA across the four-county service area.
• Goal 4 — Public Services for Vulnerable Populations: support counseling, case management, housing counseling, job training, and senior/youth services for vulnerable and at-risk groups.
• Goal 5 — Public Facilities and Infrastructure: support public facilities and infrastructure improvements in eligible neighborhoods.

What the draft 2026 funding would support (proposed totals)

According to the City’s notice, the total amount of funds available under Orlando’s 2026 Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development Programs is $10,054,688, plus program income and any carryover funds.

• CDBG (2026): $2,605,673 plus an estimated $1,507,572 in reallocated funds
  • Affordable Housing Activities (Rehab/Acquisition): $1,500,000
  • Public Facilities Improvements (Rehab/Acquisition): $1,301,261
  • Infrastructure/Hazard Abatement/Demolition/Urgent Needs: $400,000
  • Public Services Activities: $390,850
  • Program Administration: $521,134
• HOME (2026): $1,245,077
  • Rental Housing: $560,285
  • Homeowner Occupied Housing: $560,285
  • Program Administration: $124,507
• ESG (2026): $221,691
  • Shelter Operations: $99,759
  • Street Outreach: $33,253
  • Homeless Prevention: $56,053
  • Homeless Management Information System: $16,000
  • Program Administration: $16,626
• HOPWA (2026): $5,982,246 plus any reallocated prior year funds
  • Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA): $1,920,001
  • Facility Based Housing: $1,724,649
  • Supportive Services/Case Management: $920,437
  • Short-Term Rent, Mortgage, and Utility Assistance (STRMU): $762,693
  • Permanent Housing Placement (PHP): $299,999
  • Supportive Housing Services: $150,000
  • Housing Information Systems: $25,000
  • Program Administration: $179,467

Where residents can review the draft and how to comment

The City says residents can review the proposed draft documents online under its housing “Plans and Reports” area. The notice also lists in-person review sites, including the Orlando Public Library and the Orlando Housing Authority.

For people who cannot attend the hearing, written comments submitted by the July 6, 2026 deadline are part of the process.

What happens after the hearing (and why “draft” matters)

After the comment period ends, Orlando’s project timeline shows an Orlando City Council meeting on Monday, July 13, 2026 at 2 p.m. as part of the next steps.

Because these documents are drafts, residents should treat the goals and proposed activity types (and the draft funding allocations) as proposals that can change before final adoption and required federal submission.

Sources

• City of Orlando notice (hearing, deadline, accommodations, and funding breakdown)