GlobeSt.com UPDATE: 12-Year-Old Shelter/Recreation Project Wins Round

TAVARES, FL-Residents living near the environmentally-sensitive Wekiva River Protection Area and a local daily newspaper have lost a round in a revived battle with Orlando developer Michael Dick whose 12-year-old Heathrow Country Estates project seeks a new development order from a pro-development Lake County board of commissioners.

Opponents argued the estimated $50 million, 489-acre, 323-unit single-family and multifamily shelter/recreation venture shouldn’t be allowed to reapply for a permit after commissioners rejected the proposal on a close 3-2 vote in July 2000. The proposed project is 24 miles northwest of Downtown Orlando.

But the county’s own planning and zoning commission is now agreeing to review the developer’s request to add an 18-hole golf course and build its own water plant for the planned community six miles west of the Wekiva River, off State Road 46. The zoning commission’s recommendation goes to the full county commission for a vote on Aug. 28.