Latest news with #GopherTortoise
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Controversial highway project moving forward, CFX confirms
Central Florida Expressway Authority leaders are continuing to push ahead with a controversial highway project that promises to bring relief to fast-growing eastern Orange and Osceola counties, CFX confirmed Friday. The Osceola Parkway Extension would run 14 miles from SR 417 through the Sunbridge area. 1.3 miles would be through an easement on the protected conservation land. Initially, both Orange and Osceola County leaders were in favor of the project to ease congestion. As the years wore on, opposition to the toll road grew. In November, 86% of Orange County voters backed preserving the forest in a referendum, and Orange County attempted to hit the brakes on its approval of the road. 'I represent a million and a half people that showed up at the polls,' Commissioner Nicole Wilson said. 'It has been an ongoing investment. It belongs to all of us.' In a response to Orange County's concerns about survey stakes appearing in the forest despite their withdrawal of support, CFX leaders said the approval of prior county leaders had already set things in motion. 'We moved forward with the design of the 14-mile expressway based on a number of approvals both Orange and Osceola counties received from state agencies regarding the section through Split Oak,' CFX spokesman Brian Hutchings wrote Friday. Hutchings added that two of CFX's 10-member board represented Orange County, and repeatedly discussed the need for the community's infrastructure to adjust. His email included two pictures from Google Maps to highlight the dramatic difference in development over a 20-year span. One of Orange County's primary concerns was the promised trade of 1,550 acres of land for the Split Oak easement, with commissioners wondering why the road project was progressing despite the deal not being finalized. Hutchings said the land swap was in the works and, along with money that will help restore the former orange groves into prime Gopher Tortoise habitat, was set to be finalized in the 'coming months.' He also reiterated that CFX's project would bring enhancements to Split Oak, including an upgrades entrance, picnic tables and a viewing platform over a pond. At the request of one commissioner, Orange County leaders will discuss what – if any – actions they can take to stop the road project at an upcoming meeting. 'I think it's super important for the county commissioners and the mayor to come to terms with that at some point in time, a bad vote happened,' commissioner Kelly Semrad said. 'I think that it is time… that Orange County come back to the people with an answer that explains how it happened, why it happened, and why it would never happen again.' Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Red Bay residents voice concerns over industrial rezoning of D&H sand pit
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – D&H Sand is asking the county to rezone their sand pit, just west of Highway 81 in Red Bay, to heavy industrial. They made the initial request in October. Recently residents noticed an updated sign offering land clearing debris and mining. Three residents who live within a thousand feet of the sand pit received a certified letter from Emerald Coast Associates Engineering about the rezoning request. But residents say how the land will be used is unclear. No Name returning with new name and location 'There's a lot of uses for heavy industrial. So we don't know what their intended use is going to be either. I mean, they could be an incinerator concrete or asphalt plant. Don't know. A dump,' Red Bay resident Eva Sutherland said. Walton County conducted an environmental assessment of the area in November. They found no evidence of endangered species on the site. But residents say they see threatened species in the area, like the Gopher Tortoise. 'Many, many, many times you see these gopher tortoises and they're inside. Most of our property is sand and as such, water percolates through that sand at extremely rapid rate,' Red Bay resident Jeanne Carter said. The sand pit is surrounded by wetlands and the Nokuse conservation area. Residents believe chemicals from the site could get into the aquifer, and affect their well water. 'That sand plant is surrounded on all sides by wetlands, and it's pretty extensive. So there's a lot of acres systems that are at risk. Are all of us drink well, water down and read by. We don't have city water,' Red Bay native Cindy Spence said. Panama City launches water meter change-out project Emerald Coast Associates Engineering's President, Dean Burgis is also a member of the planning commission. He says he will recuse himself from voting on the request. They're hoping to know more by the next planning commission meeting on March 13th. That's when the board will make their recommendation about the rezoning request, which would go to Walton County Commissioners for a final vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
