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Lake County accepts settlement with Treasure Trove developer, will press for wider stormwater rule changes
Summary
After months of review, the county approved a settlement requiring the Treasure Trove developer to upgrade stormwater infrastructure (swales, pipe improvements and a larger on‑site pond sized to pre/post 100‑year volume) and agreed to pursue separate rulemaking to press the St. Johns River Water Management District for stricter standards.
Lake County commissioners voted Nov. 18 to accept a proposed settlement with HG Troon Creek LLC over the Treasure Trove development’s stormwater permit, securing concessions the county’s legal team said are more protective than the baseline approvals.
County attorney staff outlined the three main settlement elements: upgraded on‑site pond sizing to account for the 100‑year volumetric standard (pre‑ vs post‑development), installation of swales along critical corridors and upgrades to the pipe network that drains to county roadways. County counsel recommended acceptance to capture those tangible changes rather than risk losing via a permit challenge and receiving no improvements.
Residents and independent engineers urged the board to seek more protective measures and questioned assumptions and curve numbers used in the developer hydrology. Ray and Lisa Hayden, and technical speaker Alan Chen, detailed concerns about curve‑number changes in soil reports, off‑site flow concentration and potential impacts on nearby manufactured‑home parks and vulnerable residents.
Engineering staff said the settlement requires the developer to design off‑site swales and pipes to divert the 25‑year off‑site flow around the site and to meet a 100‑year on‑site volumetric pre/post test — a concession staff described as significant and not required under the current district rule. Staff and some commissioners said that while the settlement obtains site‑specific concessions, the county should pursue separate rulemaking to change the water management district’s standards statewide or regionally.
The board voted to accept the settlement as presented and directed staff to return with a plan for concurrent rulemaking and outreach to the St. Johns River Water Management District. The county attorney said the office will continue discovery activity as needed and that fees and discovery costs remain subject to litigation processes.
