Residents decry rural Seminole growth plan
A group of Seminole County residents appeared before commissioners this week to drive home their opposition to a developer’s proposal to build hundreds of homes and apartments in a rurally-protected area east of the Econlockhatchee River.
“I implore you not to be the County Commission that throws away this beautiful natural area and leaves us with another subdivision and strip mall,” said Debra Poulalion of Longwood. “This is not the legacy that you should want to leave your children and my children and future generations of Seminole County residents. … The Econ and the rural area around it are an environmental treasure for all of Seminole County.”
Poulalion was among five residents who spoke at Tuesday’s commission meeting regarding the preliminary development plans submitted by former state Rep. Chris Dorworth and other investors regarding the River Cross mixed-use development spread across nearly 700 acres of pastureland just west of County Road 419 and north of the Orange County line.
It would include 520 singlefamily homes, 270 townhouses, 500 apartments and 80 estate homes, along with 1.5 million square feet of shops, restaurants and office space, according to plans.
Seminole’s planning and zoning board is scheduled to hear the request July 11 and issue a recommendation. County commissioners, likely in September, then will discuss and vote on whether to change the county’s comprehensive plan to move the project forward in the rural protection area.
In 2004, Seminole voters approved a ballot measure that established a strict rural boundary mostly east of the Econlockhatchee River, Oviedo and Lake Jesup — roughly a third of Seminole’s east side. Densities within that rural area are limited to between one home per 3 acres and one home per 10 acres.
“It should be preserved for the benefit of all the residents of Seminole County,” Jay Jurie of Sanford told commissioners regarding the rural protection area. “It was put in place for good reason.”
Seminole Commission Chairman John Horan was the only commissioner who commented after the residents spoke, saying the rural area belongs to all residents.
“The fact that we have a rural boundary and an urban service line is something that is part of our comprehensive land use plan in Seminole County,” he said. “The rural areas are not just for the people who live in the rural areas. That’s important for the entire comprehensive development plan of the entire county.”