SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES ON THE RURAL BOUNDARY

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WHAT IS THE RURAL BOUNDARY AND WHERE IS IT?

The rural boundary is a defined area of 74,413.87 acres in Seminole County encompassing the following wilderness areas: Little Big Econ, Black Hammock, Geneva, Chuluota, Econ River (satellite view). Seminole’s rural boundary butts up against similarly rural land in East Orange County; land that has also been under attack by developers and represents a “scope creep area” should River Cross get approved (map). Current zoning for the rural boundary area is: 1 home per 3 acres or 1 home per 10 acres as established by voters in 2004.

 

WHAT IS RIVER CROSS?

A substantial residential/commercial development (developer plan; satellite view) that has been proposed in the rural boundary a mere 2-3 miles south of The Sanctuary on CR-419 (map of location showing proximity).

River Cross consists of ~670 total acres broken down as follows (Orlando Sentinel article) :

  • 520 single-family homes
  • 270 townhouses
  • 500 apartments
  • 80 estate homes
  • 1.5 million square feet of commercial space

For reference, The Sanctuary is 727.30 total acres broken down as follows:

  • Single-family residential: 339.79 acres
  • Commercial: 6.21 acres
  • School: 25.04 acres
  • Park: 7.55 acres
  • Wetlands: 256.28 acres
  • Open space: 67.45 acres
  • Collector road: 11.76 acres
  • CR-419 ROW: 10.62 acres
  • Fire station: 2.60 acres

 

WHY SHOULD I CARE?

This proposed development violates zoning established by voters in 2004. Seminole County’s growth management laws and policies are severely deficient compared to neighboring counties (particularly Orange). The county historically has allowed developers to get away with paying minimal impact fees. Schools are typically the biggest beneficiary of these fees, then municipal services. With such rapid development and insufficient impact fees, the county must dip into other sources to fund school construction and municipal services, leaving schools overcrowded for YEARS and diverting tax dollars from other county needs. The elementary and middle schools zoned for this proposed development (Walker, Partin, LCMS) are already beyond capacity.

This proposed development has the potential for substantial negative impact to our community including:

  • Excessive traffic congestion on CR-419
  • Additional overcrowding at our elementary/middle schools, which are already beyond capacity
  • Additional traffic within our community for LCMS drop off/pick up
  • Insufficient infrastructure for public works/municipal services (emergency services, water, garbage, etc.)
  • Displacement of native animals (alligators, bears, bobcats, etc.)
  • Destruction/pollution of The Econ River Wilderness Area
  • The proposed McCulloch bridge extension over the Econ River is NOT included in these plans; it is a separate initiative, so theoretically, this development could get built, adding an additional several thousand cars to The Sanctuary’s end of CR-419, Lockwood, Mitchell Hammock, etc.)
  • Should this development move forward, it paves the way for development of the rest of the rural boundary, eventually encroaching on Chuluota, Geneva, our immediate neighbors in Orange County, and beyond.

 

WHAT CAN I DO?

 

WHAT IS THE BOARD DOING?

  • Providing resources for our Members to learn about the proposed development
  • Connecting with neighboring communities to band together and oppose this development – strength in numbers. Already on board:
    • Alafaya Woods – 2,300 homes
    • Live Oak Reserve – 933 lots
    • Osprey Lakes – 196 homes
    • Killaloe by the Lake – 65 homes
    • Summerfield – 51 homes
    • Pickett Downs Phase 1 – 80 lots
    • Pickett Downs Phases 2-3 – 106 lots/105 homeowners
    • Pickett Downs Phase 4 – 89 lots
    • Riverside at Twin Rivers
    • Contact made with: Riverwoods, Kingsbridge East, Kingsbridge West, Waverlee Woods, Oviedo Forest, Trails of Seminole,
  • The board drafted and sent a letter on behalf of the community to the Seminole County Planning & Zoning board asking them NOT to recommend the proposed development to the Board of County Commissioners
  • The board drafted and sent a letter on behalf of the community to the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners asking them to oppose the proposed development
  • The board has shared its opposition with Oviedo City Council members
  • The board shared its opposition with the SJRWMD
  • The board plans to submit several questions re: fiscal impact to be answered at the public hearing, including:
    • How much tax revenue would this generate?
    • How much would the developer pay in fees?
    • Has the county followed suit with previous developments and essentially given away the farm, so to speak, on impact fees?
    • How much land is the developer required to reserve for infrastructure?
    • Is the developer donating land (or selling it at a heavily discounted rate) for an elementary and middle school?
    • What is the long-term fiscal impact on the residents in the surrounding area?
    • What measures will the developer be required to take to mitigate the environmental impact of the project?
  • The board will draft and send an opposition letter to the relevant state representatives if the proposed development moves forward
  • As a last resort, if development of the rural boundary is inevitable, the board will consider commissioning an alternative development proposal

Depending on how the next few months go, the board will adjust its opposition strategy accordingly. If you have suggestions for the board on this topic, please send them to drew@nexuscommunitymanagement.com