Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Subdivision topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Heritage Green rural-conservation sketch plan postponed after residents and commissioners raise flooding, access and sewer concerns
Summary
A 217-acre rural conservation subdivision concept proposing 265 lots was postponed for 90 days after commissioners and many nearby residents voiced concerns about access, flood risk, sewer capacity and missing management details.
The Board of County Commissioners postponed action for 90 days (to April 1) on a proposed 217-acre rural conservation subdivision named Heritage Green after robust public comment and questions from commissioners about flooding, access and utilities.
The conceptual sketch plan, presented by the developer and described by Mike Fitzgerald, planning and zoning director, proposed 265 platted single-family lots with about 61% open space and three possible access options. The property lies north of Wolf Branch Road in the Mount Dora joint planning area and within the Wekiva study area. The city of Mount Dora told staff it currently lacks sewer capacity to accept the subdivisionand suggested the developer dedicate internal roads privately rather than seek municipal maintenance.
Residents from neighboring Wolf Branch Estates and other adjacent communities told the board they have lingering flood damage from Hurricane Milton, described existing water in backyards and objected to additional development they said would drive more runoff downhill. Multiple speakers urged a moratorium or delay until hydrologic analysis and Round Lake Road extension design are resolved. Commissioners asked why required management plan and site-visit details were not included in the packet; staff said it had conducted two site visits but that HOA documents and more detailed management plan elements are prepared at the preliminary plat stage.
Commissioners flagged several unresolved issues: whether the proposed access points conflict with the countyplanned Round Lake Road extension; lack of demonstrated sewer capacity from Mount Dora; the adequacy of a management plan (staff reported open-space would be maintained by an HOA but the HOA articles were not yet filed); the need for a hydrogeologic study in the Wekiva study area; and how to preserve sensitive slopes, depressions and a karst feature on the northern portion of the property. Several commissioners said the concept was the first of its kind under the countyconservation-subdivision standards and asked staff and the applicant to return with more complete information.
After public comment and applicant responses, the board voted unanimously to postpone the matter 90 days to allow the applicant to return with more detailed engineering, a formal management plan, clearer access and coordination on sewer capacity.
