Split Oak defenders to drop lawsuit

Group still vows to fight toll road plan

The Friends of Split Oak Forest plan to drop a Sunshine Law lawsuit against Osceola County commissioners and focus instead on efforts to keep state protections in place for the 1,689-acre conservation land that is threatened by a proposed toll road, the group said Friday.

The group had accused Osceola commissioners of reaching a consensus to support the road at a board workshop without allowing public comment in opposition.

Valerie Anderson, president of The Friends of Split Oak Forest, said the environmental group will press on with its fight to preserve the publicly-owned lands by taking its defense of the forest to the Florida Communities Trust, which can reject the Central Florida Expressway Authority’s preferred path to extend the Osceola Parkway through the wilderness area.

“I would say it’s a stronger case and more directly about conservation lands,” Anderson said of the expected state-level challenge.

Despite outspoken pleas from environmentalists and other defenders of Split Oak Forest, Orange County and Osceola County commissioners pledged their support for CFX’s plan to run a toll road through the pristine conservation area, beloved by nature lovers and runners for its untouched wilderness areas and a wide variety of wildlife.

Supporters of the road contend it’s needed to improve connectivity and prevent traffic congestion in an area where large-scale developments are planned.

They also argue the 1.4-mile stretch of road which would go through the forest’s southern tip would have “minimal impact,” a point Anderson’s group refutes.

The proposed route through Split Oak would cost an estimated $790 million.

Anderson said the road-building authority also has a “feasible alternate alignment” but it’s more expensive.

The acquisition of Split Oak in 1994 was a historic effort by a coalition of governments to protect land from development.

The picturesque park, 1,160 acres of which are in southeastern Orange and about 600 in eastern Osceola County, were bought for $8.6 million with Orange County kicking in $3.17 million and the Trust chipping in $2.3 million. The property is located on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.

Anderson said the state should keep its word to taxpayers who funded the Split Oak Forest because the land’s high conservation value has not changed.