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County votes down $1.2B Rybolt Park plan

Tuesday the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted down a developer's proposal to open more than 1400 acres up to new development. The developer touted the usual jobs, jobs, jobs and of course, "workforce housing". 

 

This is the new sheepskin covering developers seeking approvals for vast amounts of new development before the Nov 2010 Amendment 4 vote. If A4 passes it will require that residents have a vote on density increases and other changes to the comprehensive plan.

 

Instead of Rybolt it could have been spelled N-E-W C-I-T-Y. There was no demonstration of need.  Congratulations to the Orange County BCC.

 

Just as there was no demonstration of need for Rybolt, there is no demonstration of need for approximately 6000 acres that developers south of Clermont want to open for development. 

 

Leading the way helping developers are Clermont council members Robert Thompson and Ray Goodgame. They have openly indicated want to help the developers avoid public input by and beat the Amendment 4 vote by increasing to a density that will effectivly allow about three projects the size of Karlton, which residents erupted over three years ago and the County voted down.

 

Sean Parks, running against Elaine Renick for the County Commission, is one of the outspoken supporters of developing the area. While on the County Planning Agency, parks proposed designating the area as "workplace district" allowing more than 6000 homes on just 1800 acres. The Planning Agency didn't support his proposal and now he's advocating for nearly 6000 acres and working it through a new channel. Thompson and Goodgame are proposing designating the area "work district". Sounds familiar.

 

Sounds nice. Still spells N-E-W C-I-T-Y. No demonstration of need. Destroys more rural area. Hey - What every happened to the MyRegion.org vision that these people touted - developing higher density within the city to prevent urban sprawl and help justify mass transit? What they really seem to want is higher density in the City and higher density in the rural areas.

 

And what about the areas like old downtown Clermont that die a little more everytime more sprawl is approved in other areas? Same old....

 

Thompson and Goodgame are clearly doing the bidding for the developers and are using the same "jobs, jobs, jobs" mantra. They say no housing developments but then say "support housing" will be needed. If they desire a "live,work,play" development, they will need to approve massive amounts of housing to have the "live" part of the equation. It's more sheepskin just to get the proposal through.

 

What they are not telling the public is that Clermont already has 14,000+ acres of land in their planning area that has little or no current activity for economic development. Yes, 14,000+.

 

Thompson got a city council seat without his name being on the ballot (there was not another candidate running). Goodgame supported the previous Karlton Development (he said as he was ok with it as long as it was "self sufficient") that would have brought more than 12,000 people in approx. 6000-7000 homes to the area south of Clermont.) 

 

Thompson is up for election this year, Goodgame next year. Many expect Clermont residents to send them a strong message. Parks, who ran against Jimmy Conner for County Commission in 2008 and lost badly, is likely in for another disappointment running against the loved County Commissioner, Elaine Renick.

 

Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 2:55pm EST

County votes down $1.2B Rybolt Park plan

Orlando Business Journal - by Anjali Fluker Staff Writer

The Orange County Commission on March 9 voted down a controversial plan that would have developed a 1,440-acre, 100-year-old cattle ranch east of the Econlockhatchee River into a $1.2 billion mixed-use community similar to Baldwin Park.

Proposed plans for Rybolt Park included 5,000 homes with 20 percent work force housing, 150,000 square feet of retail, 922,000 square feet of office space, a 1.1 million-square-foot research park and 335 acres of parks, trails and open space, as previously reported by Orlando Business Journal. The project was proposed as an infill development that would serve as a live-work-play community for the University of Central Florida’s main campus and Central Florida Research Park.

The board March 9 voted 6-1 against transmitting the proposed plan for the development of regional impact to the state Department of Community Affairs, stating the need for a bridge over the Econ River would cause that area’s rural character to change by driving more development to the area, something nearby residents and environmental groups have also said. Only Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell voted in favor of transmitting the plan, county officials said.

“There was a tremendous amount of forward-thinking elements, but it’s like doing it in Central Park,” said Commissioner Bill Segal. “You can have best development in the world, but it’s in the wrong place.”

Mary Rybolt Lamar, whose family built up the ranch, said she is in discussions with attorneys at Orlando law firm Latham, Shuker, Eden & Beaudine LLP regarding her legal options, including filing a lawsuit against the county. “We’re not a family that runs from a fight,” Lamar told Orlando Business Journal. “We’re fully committed to this project.”

The family’s attorney Peter Latham, a partner in the law firm, said the county relied on inaccurate and misleading information, and may have effectively caused a moratorium on future development by not supporting this development. It also is no longer a rural area, Latham said, since more than 150,000 people moved into the area since the last time the county set the urban service area line and approved several thousand suburban homes east of the Rybolt Ranch and north of State Road 50.

“The failure to transmit this project denies this area the ability to provide the type of community many potential businesses are looking for near UCF and the Research Park,” Latham said in a statement. “Non-transmittal denies thousands of jobs, millions in transportation improvements paid for by the development and a true loss for Central Florida.”

But Segal said those jobs and improvements wouldn’t have come for several years and the county supports development within urban areas, while Rybolt Park is more of an example of sprawl.

Baker pulls plug on agriculture commissioner bid

Source: Orlando Sentinel

 

EUSTIS – Calling it a difficult but "ultimately a necessary" decision, state Sen. Carey Baker said today that he is ending his run for state agriculture commissioner.

The Eustis Republican faced a daunting task trying to win the GOP nomination against U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow, one of Florida's top congressional stars.

Baker could not be reached for comment. But in a statement released to his friends and supporters, he said he wanted to focus his energy on serving "full time" in the Legislature.

"With so many other challenges to address in our state, particularly in the Legislature, it would be wrong of me to continue a campaign when I have not met the goals I need to win," according to Baker's written statement. "While I withdraw my candidacy with a heavy heart, I know that as a full-time Senator, I can continue to make a difference and make you proud."

Baker became one of the first candidates to enter the race in November 2008, hoping to succeed Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, an Osceola County Republican whose tenure is ending this year because of term limits.

Baker had raised $535,315 in cash and in-kind contributions for the statewide contest, while Putnam garnered more than $1.53 million as of Dec. 31, according to the latest campaign-finance reports from the state Division of Elections.

Pat Bainter, a Baker campaign consultant, said Baker is not planning to run for re-election to the state Senate.

"He had given his word that he would not step back into that race and he plans to keep his word," Bainter said.

Baker served in the state House from 2000 to 2004, when he won a special election for state Senate. He was re-elected to a full four-year term in 2006.

Meanwhile, Putnam praised Baker after receiving word that the state senator had dropped his bid.

"Sen. Baker is an outstanding public servant, a good man," Putnam said. "He's a real patriot, and I hope to earn his support as this campaign moves forward."

In the Democratic race for agriculture commissioner, candidates include former Tallahassee mayor and state Democratic Party chairman Scott Maddox and former state Rep. Rick Minton of Fort Pierce.

Martin E. Comas can be reached at mcomas@orlandosentinel.com or 352-742-5927.

Copyright © 2010, Orlando Sentinel

Minneola: "Loverboy" Mayor David Yeager Ousted by Pat Kelley

Tuesday Nov. 2nd.  Minneola City Council member Pat Kelley with 56.58% of the vote toppled Mayor "Loverboy" David Yeager with 43.42%.

Yeager made a controversial push to bring gambling venues as a way to jump-start the local economy, and Central Florida's first Latino elected mayor, Mascotte's Felix Ramirez, also went down to defeat.

See the whole story at the OrlandoSentinel.com

REMINDER: Comprehensive Plan Public Workshops begin with South Lake on Monday

Monday from 6-7:30 pm is the South Lake comp. plan meeting where people will be requesting changes to the new comprehensive plan. See the meeting info below.

Ask the Commissioners to CHANGE BACK THE GREEN SWAMP! for the 400 acres they increased density on last Tuesday. Why didn't they wait until the public meetings to hear this?

Most of the requested changes by various people will be to increase density to allow for more growth. Changes that the Commissioners agree to make during these meetings are "tentative", but will probably hold until the plan is approved in January 2010.

Last Tuesday, Commissioners received input from a private land owner's representative and agreed to increase density on 400 acres in the Green Swamp. The change began with a request for about 70 acres which had been denied three times by the LPA. The County Commission "compromised" on the request and "only" changed the uplands to the higher density leaving the flood plain, wetlands and water in the lower density. Not much of a compromise when you can't build in the flood plain or wetlands anyways.

Because they made this change, it created a "pocket" of higher density surrounded by lower density. Commissioners then changed the surrounding land - which was not in the request - to a higher density. By the end, the Commissioners changed (increased density) on 400.63 acres by 100%.

The requester on this claimed that there was a mistake years ago that was never corrected. There is no evidence of this. A state planner and a former county planner contacted by the County found only anecdotal evidence of " maybe it could have been that way." There are no historical maps or other evidence of a "mistake" that warrants a change to a higher density now. The land has had the same land use for 20 years since the Green Swamp was first designated. This is the first time we are aware of that the County has changed land use in the Green Swamp core conservation, rural conservation, or rural areas.

Unfortunately Commissioner Elaine Renick was ok with the compromise. Does she think "it doesn't hurt the Green Swamp or environment" or "there are already a lot of houses across the street so this doesn't hurt anything". We don't know. We do know that this is the edge of the Green Swamp that developers have been nibbling on for 10+ years. The Community as raised and spent more than $80,000 and thousands of hours of time defending the swamp from this type of nibbling. Apparently it was ok to nibble more.

Another significant issue is that the County Commissioners told the Planning Agency and the Public for 4 years that there would be no changes to the Green Swamp land uses in this new plan. What gives now?

Come to the Comp. Plan meeting Monday and ask the Commissioners to CHANGE BACK THE GREEN SWAMP! on these 400 acres they changed last Tuesday. Why didn't they wait until the public meetings to hear this?

There is another issue in the Wekiva area where they changed land use from 2 homes per acre to 5 homes per acre allowing 285 more homes than the LPA recommended. The Mt. Plymouth-Sorrento Advisory group recommended 5 homes per acre but the LPA did not find that the piece of land fit well for planning purposes and put it at 2 homes per acres. Last Tuesday the Commissioners changed it to 5 homes per acres at the reqeust of the land owner and because the MPS Advisory group had it in their recommendations. We'll write more about this later.

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners is hosting three public workshops to give stakeholders — residents, property owners, business owners, municipalities and other local and regional entities — an opportunity to voice concerns, questions and suggestions about the proposed Lake County Comprehensive Plan.

County Commissioners will be presiding over the series of public meetings about the draft comprehensive plan, which defines where an how much growth will be allowed through 2030. The three public meetings are:

• Monday, Nov. 2 — Cooper Memorial Library, Room 108, 2525 Oakley Seaver Drive, Clermont, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
  
• Thursday, Nov. 5 — Cassia Community Center, 29245 State Road 44, Eustis, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
  
• Monday, Nov. 9 — Tavares Civic Center, 100 E. Caroline St., Tavares, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

For more information or copies of the draft comprehensive plan, log on to www.lakecountyfl.gov/2030 or call the Lake County Department of Growth Management at (352) 343-9739.

You fund campaigns — even if you don't want to

Interesting article from Lauren Ritchie.

Orlando Sentinel
Lauren Ritchie COMMENTARY

September 20

I didn't know the state matches campaign funds - giving taxpayer money to candidates.

She goes on to say that If you contribute to state Sen. Carey Baker's campaign for Florida agriculture secretary, you're forcing every resident of the Sunshine State to kick in, too.

That's because the state matches personal contributions of up to $250 with tax dollars. Baker's Republican colleague, state Rep. Alan Hays, calls it "welfare for politicians."

Leave it to Hays to get colorful. But he's right. What is the state doing handing out tax money to politicos in a year when the Legislature has raised taxes on everyone who lives here in a half dozen sneaky ways?

Let's see ... what's more important: Money for the education of schoolchildren? Or money for candidates to brainwash you with TV ads?

This should be a year for necessities. Since when is it "necessary" to provide tax money to someone you may not even support? Maybe every one of those $250 matches could go to a family losing a home to foreclosure instead of the bank account of a candidate who wants a state job paying even more taxpayer money.

Boy, has this state got its priorities twisted.

Read more of Lauren's column at Her blog is at OrlandoSentinel.com/laurenonlake

City Council candidates in many citys are set

Friday was the last day for candidates to qualify to run for city council seats in numerous Lake County cities.

Some races have several candidates vying for office while in others, only the incumbent qualified and will not be challenged.

Here is the current line up:

Eustis: Only one candidate qualified for Seat 1, Albert Eckian. Since the city was not scheduled to hold an election this year, there will be a special election. Eckian will complete the remainder of Scott Ales' term, which ends in December 2010.

Groveland: District 2, James Gearhart will run against Mike Radzik. District 4, Allen Sherrod is being challenged by Evelyn Wilson.

Lady Lake: Council members Ruth Kussard, Ty Miller and Mayor Jim Richards have no opposition so they will keep their seats by default.

Minneola: Rick Roderick qualified for Seat 1 and is unoppose, he'll have Seat 1 by default. For Mayor, Dave Yeager is being challenged by Council member Pat Kelley who currently holds seat 1. Seat 5 has Jerry Roach and Joe Saunders running against each other. Sue Cordova currently is in Seat 5 and is not seeking re-election.

Mount Dora: Mayor Mellissa DeMarco is being challenged by Steven Durkovic. At-large-seat Jim Yatsuk is running against Fay Brooks-Williams, John Cataldo and Tom Eppich. District 1, has Stewart Holley unopposed. In District 4, Dennis Wood will challenge Michael Tedder.

Umatilla: Existing council member Peter Tarby-Seat 1, Holley Jane Curley-Seat 2, and Mayor : Benita Dixon are unopposed and will retain their seats. For Seat 3, Eric Olson is being challenged by Eric Pringle.

I beleive all of the above elections are November 3rd. Howey, Mascotte Montverde and Tavares are already finished qualifying - we'll post the infomation next week.