Seminole OKs expansion of popular Wekiva Island despite protests

Seminole County commissioners on Tuesday approved a controversial plan to expand a popular entertainment complex along the shores of the environmentally sensitive Wekiva River, despite concerns from nearby residents that it will bring additional noise, traffic, crowds and litter to the waterway and their quiet neighborhood.

Commissioner Lee Constantine, however, said the Wekiva Island attraction gives visitors a chance to see and appreciate the river. He made a motion, which commissioners approved, to limit the attraction to 395 people.

“I would never, ever do anything to harm the Wekiva River,” Constantine said. “To see it, is to save it. ….[Wekiva Island] brings guests and eclectic crowd. But they are looking at the river, and they are seeing a resource that they will want to protect and save. …One of the things we have to do is to make sure that everybody realizes what an incredible asset the Wekiva River is.”

Scores of residents and representatives from environmental groups attended the county meeting, with many speaking against the request by William Weinaug to expand his Wekiva Island complex on Miami Springs Drive by adding more parking spaces, extending the hours for music during special events, increasing the number of people allowed and erecting solar panels.

Residents have long complained that the hundreds of people that currently visit Wekiva Island for weekend “parties” bring in noise, traffic, public intoxication and litter. They said expanding Wekiva Island would make matters worse.

“We’re not trying to shut them down,” said Barbara Thornton, president of the Sweetwater Springs homeowners association, a gated community of 77 homes just south of Wekiva Island. “But they already have a lot and they don’t need anymore. It’s five acres.”

Environmental groups including the Sierra Club and Seminole Audubon Society said expanding the business along the shores of Wekiva could damage the ecologically important waterway and violate the state’s Wekiva River Protection Act.

“Over the years Wekiva Island has been widely popular and it’s a great place to unwind and enjoy the river views,” said Deborah Shelley, manager of the Aquatic Preserve Alliance of Central Florida. “But we believe that during busy times, Wekiva Island is over capacity and no additional capacity is warranted.”

Weinaug, however, said his business has been willing to work with nearby residents — particularly those in Sweetwater Springs — to ease the impacts of an expansion.

According to Weinaugs’ request, Wekiva Island would add 23 more parking spots for a total of 271 spaces. The Weinaugs also want to build an art gallery and meeting room on the second floor of a building on the property. The proposal also included installing solar panels on the property along with a cistern that would collect rainwater to be used to flush the public toilets.

But nearby residents said that they were not convinced Wekiva Island needs to expand.

“We bought here because it was a very quiet area,” said Jeff Stamer, a resident and board member the Sweetwater Springs homeowners association. “We’re not asking that Wekiva Island go away. We just want them to stick