Kevin Sweet, City Manager, City of Winter Springs

April 2026 — In an interview with Invest:, Kevin Sweet, city manager of Winter Springs, shared how the city is navigating leadership transitions, infrastructure investment, and long-term planning as it positions itself for sustainable growth. “There are some great opportunities for folks who want to invest here, move here, relocate here, and live here,” Sweet said.

What changes have you seen in municipal leadership or community expectations over the past year, and how are those influencing your approach in Winter Springs?

Over the past year, we’ve seen significant changes in leadership and expectations. I actually hit my 12-month milestone in December. I’ve been able to come into the community, evaluate where we are, and assess our organizational needs. 

Just before I started, in November 2024, Winter Springs had an election that resulted in three out of five commissioner seats turning over. When you’re talking about a five-member commission, that’s a substantial shift. As city manager, I function as the chief executive officer, but the policy direction of the community comes from our elected officials. When leadership changes at that level, priorities and focus naturally evolve.

Operationally, the past year has been about identifying gaps, strengthening leadership, and ensuring we’re delivering strong customer service. We’ve had some director-level leadership changes, staffing adjustments, and internal reorganization. Overall, those changes have put us in a better position today than where we were a year ago.

We also have a very engaged resident base with high expectations, and our responsibility is to deliver on those expectations while remaining balanced and transparent.

What have you learned about the needs of the community since you started?

A lot of that insight has come through our comprehensive plan update. The plan serves as a blueprint for where the city wants to be over the next decade, and it’s been a valuable tool for gathering resident input through public forums, conversations, and events.

Those discussions extend beyond economic development. They include quality-of-life priorities like parks, recreation, community amenities, and the overall character of the city. While schools fall under the Seminole County School Board, they’re still part of the broader ecosystem that influences why people choose to live and work here.

One consistent theme we’ve heard, and this isn’t unique to Winter Springs, is how much the post-COVID environment has shifted expectations. We can build multifamily projects all day, but that’s not necessarily what residents want. Increased residential density without the right balance can add traffic and strain services.

Winter Springs is predominantly residential. We’re roughly 90% residential and less than 10% commercial. A major goal for me is diversification. Strengthening our commercial base allows us to spread the tax burden more evenly and create a more complete city where people can live, work, and access services locally.

Residents are also focused on smart development. They want growth that fits the community, particularly thoughtful infill in existing commercial areas. On the west side of the city, there are older areas that are well positioned for reinvestment, while the east side reflects newer development. Our objective is to avoid having two different visions for Winter Springs and instead create a cohesive, balanced city.

What infrastructure priorities are critical to supporting that vision?

Our most significant infrastructure priority is utilities, especially wastewater. The city operates its own water, wastewater, and reclaimed water systems, and when I came into this role, understanding the condition of those assets was a top priority. We are actively moving forward with new wastewater treatment facilities. We’ve engaged a design engineer and a construction manager at risk, and we’re about % through the design phase for our east plant, which serves the eastern portion of the city. That project alone represents an investment of roughly $80 million. At the same time, we’re preparing to begin the design process for the west plant.

Together, these projects represent about a five-year plan. The east plant should be completed in roughly three years, and within five years we expect to have both facilities fully operational. In total, we’re looking at more than $160 million in wastewater infrastructure investment.

That level of investment is uncommon in local government. Many communities never have the opportunity to build a new wastewater treatment facility, and Winter Springs is pursuing two. These facilities are well past their useful life, and modernizing them is essential to supporting commercial growth and long-term resilience.

Where do you see the greatest opportunity for innovation within city operations?

There’s significant opportunity in practical technology adoption, particularly when it comes to artificial intelligence. I’ve been involved in the local government AI space and believe strongly in using these tools where they make sense.

One initiative we’re rolling out involves an AI-driven platform through Polymorphic, starting with our city website. Residents can access information outside of normal business hours, whether it’s a simple question or something more detailed related to permitting or city services.

The goal isn’t to replace staff. It’s to make them more efficient so they’re not spending their time answering repetitive questions and can focus on higher-value work.

We’re also participating in AGIL, an innovation lab based in Altamonte Springs, alongside all seven cities in Seminole County. That collaboration allows us to explore new technologies collectively, share insights, and benefit from greater buying power. We expect to see continued innovation in areas like permitting, plan review, and internal workflows where technology can reduce time-intensive manual processes.

What challenges is the city facing as it continues to grow?

Traffic is one of the most immediate challenges. Winter Springs is well located, with access to State Road 417 and proximity to I-4 and the broader Orlando corridor. That accessibility attracts residents and businesses, but it also brings congestion as Central Florida continues to grow.

State Road 434 is our main corridor, and increased activity there directly affects quality of life. We’re also seeing new commercial development in our town center, including retail, dining, and residential projects. While that interest is positive from an economic development standpoint, it increases pressure on infrastructure and traffic management.

Funding is another challenge. We’re working to maintain service levels without increasing the millage rate, even as costs rise. Homeowners insurance and cost-of-living increases affect residents directly, and those realities shape how we approach budgeting.

There are also statewide discussions around eliminating property taxes, which fund a large portion of municipal operations. Even if those changes don’t happen immediately, we have to think proactively about financial resilience and how services would be sustained.

As you look ahead, what opportunities stand out most for Winter Springs?

There are meaningful opportunities for commercial development on both the east and west sides of the city, including several hundred acres that could support professional office, medical, light industrial, and specialty retail uses. One of those sites is located right off 417, making it particularly attractive for regional employers.

We’re working closely with the Orlando Economic Partnership to market these opportunities and attract the right kind of investment. Being open to zoning reconsideration and land-use flexibility is an important part of that process.

Time matters to investors. Streamlined permitting and responsiveness are critical, and we’re focused on reducing barriers while maintaining standards and aligning with the community’s long-term vision.

Ultimately, Winter Springs offers strong connectivity to the greater Orlando region, a high quality of life, and room for thoughtful growth. There are some great opportunities for folks who want to invest here, move here, relocate here, and live here.

Want more? Read the Invest: Greater Orlando report.