Scott, Cabinet revive Lake Pickett South project in east Orange

Months after opponents declared it dead, the controversial Lake Pickett South development in east Orange County was revived Wednesday by Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet.

The proposed 2,000-home development had been in limbo since a judge ruled in August that the county broke its own growth rules in approving it.

At the Cabinet meeting in Tallahassee, Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis reversed the judge’s decision, ruling the county was within its rights to interpret its own growth plan the way it sees fit.

The ruling is a victory for supporters of the project, who argue it will provide needed housing for people who work in the growing jobs corridor just west of the river, including Lockheed Martin, the Central Florida Research Park and University of Central Florida.

But it was a major setback to Save Orange County, a group of east Orlando residents who have

fought the project for years. Many spoke passionately at the Cabinet meeting about the threat it poses to their rural way of life east of the Econlockhatchee River.

“I’m at a loss for words,” said Kelly Semrad, a Save Orange County member and one of the petitioners in the case. “I’m still trying to grasp everything.”

The Cabinet unanimously found that Administrative Law Judge Suzanne Van Wyk should have deferred to the county on several findings in her ruling, including whether the project could be considered an urban development in a rural area and whether homes could be more closely clustered to avoid encroaching on environmentally sensitive areas.

State Deputy General Counsel John MacIver told Scott and the Cabinet that as long as an issue was “within the realm of possible and reasonable interpretations, and fairly debatable,” then they — and the administrative law judge — had no legal choice but to defer to the County Commission’s original 4-3 vote to approve the project in 2016.

“Why do we hear these cases?” Scott asked.

“That’s the problem with these,” Bondi responded. “We’re so limited as to what we can legally consider.”

Dwight Saathoff, developer of the project also known as The Grow, said he was “thrilled” about the Cabinet’s ruling, adding he hopes to break ground within 10 to 12 months.

“I’m glad they upheld the lawful decision of the Board of County Commissioners,” Saathoff said. “I’m looking forward to beginning the project and provide muchneeded housing to the community.”

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs had no comment Wednesday, according to a county spokeswoman.

The project’s approval played a big role in Commissioner Ted Edwards’ loss to activist Emily Bonilla in 2016. Another proposed development in the area, Lake Pickett North, was voted down by the commission later that year.

Bonilla, representing herself and not the county, was one of more than a dozen people who spoke before the Cabinet.

“This is really emotional for me to be here,” Bonilla said. “I’ve been at this for five years. … I went to the [first] community meeting and it was packed, and every meeting after that has been packed with people. That’s how important this is to them.”

East Orlando resident Ronald Brooke said the developer’s description of The Grow as a rural, agricultural neighborhood, or “Agrihood,” was “a joke.”

“What you have before you is a wolf,” Brooke said. ‘Someone’s trying to present it to you like it’s a lamb. It ain’t a lamb. It ain’t rural.”

Debbie Parrish, president of the nearby Lake Pickett community organization, spoke in favor of the project.

“Over the last couple of years, I’ve come to realize that some developments, particularly unique and creative ones, are needed,” Parrish said.

Save Orange County’s next step is unclear. Semrad said the group would look into further legal options.

“Everything we do is selffunded or done through fundraisers, and if there’s no legal footing we can pursue, we’re not going to waste the community’s money,” she said.

But, Semrad added, “We’re all coming to terms with this decision being overturned, but the final voice is at the polls. We’re not endorsing, supporting or helping the [campaigns] of Adam Putnam for governor, Patronis for CFO or Gov. Scott for Senate. See you at the polls.”