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Board approves $675,000 purchase agreement to restore washed‑out Britt Road after hurricane damage
Summary
Lake County commissioners approved a $675,000 purchase agreement for approximately two acres of right of way and adjacent conservation acreage to rebuild a washed‑out stretch of Britt Road damaged by Hurricane Milton. The vote was 4–1; commissioners cited traffic, safety and impacts on alternative routes.
Lake County commissioners approved a purchase agreement on Aug. 12 to buy parcels needed to repair and reopen a section of Britt Road that washed out during Hurricane Milton. The county will pay $675,000 to acquire roughly 2 acres of right of way — including a 66‑foot corridor from the western edge of the existing pavement — plus an additional 6 acres of land around a nearby natural water body for conservation and slope protection, according to county staff. The acquisition will permit design and reconstruction of a two‑lane roadway with box culverts and rock riprap at the inlets and outlets to improve flood resilience, county staff said. Commissioners were told the appraisal valued the property at $351,000; staff had negotiated the higher purchase price during ongoing discussions with the owner. County Manager Jennifer Barker said negotiations had stretched months and that obtaining necessary right of way had been difficult in the past. Commissioners and staff said the purchase avoids a potentially lengthy eminent‑domain process and removes uncertainty about access to a key north‑south connector. Commissioners also said reopening Britt Road would reduce added traffic and safety pressure on State Road 44‑B and other local roads that have been bearing extra traffic since the washout. Board members cited concerns about emergency vehicle response times and daily commuting impacts in Northeast Lake County. The board approved the purchase agreement by a 4–1 vote. The resolution authorizes staff to complete the transaction, start design work and proceed with required permitting and construction steps. What happens next: Lake County will complete due diligence and record the right‑of‑way deeds, then proceed with engineering design and permitting for the repair. Staff said the county will coordinate flood‑control elements with appropriate water‑management agencies. Why it matters: The county described the purchase as the fastest feasible way to restore a damaged connector route and avoid prolonged detours that have increased travel time and risk on adjacent roads.
