Here's a very good read.
Residents said developers hoping to build 400 homes in the fast-growing Sorrento area of Lake County reached out to inform them about the proposed subdivision and were considerate about their concerns. Not many developers give residents an opportunity to look at the neighborhood plans, said Heather Brush, 59, of Sorrento, referring to developer Sorrento Pines LLC approaching them in November. They negotiated with us; they cared about the impact. But she and another couple who had been supportive because of concessions by the developer changed their minds after receiving a letter from Sorrento Pines they said amounted to a gag order not to bad-mouth the project. They presented that letter at the last minute, saying we had to sign, Brush told Lake County commissioners last week. We just thought it wasnt right. It made us a little suspicious what is coming that we dont know about? I dont understand what theyre so afraid of. The Sorrento area has been blitzed with development projects in the past few years because of its proximity to the Wekiva Parkway, which in 2021 will complete a long-awaited expressway loop around Metro Orlando. Commissioners didnt mention the letter in rejecting Sorrento Pines 4-1, saying instead that the density of two homes per acre was too high for that part of the county. At the meeting, Kathy Hattaway, a certified planner at the Orlando land-planning firm Poulos & Bennett, which submitted the application, defended the intent of the letter. The developer had agreed to a 100-foot buffer with raised elevation and shrubbery to separate the properties south of County Road 44, west of County Road 437. These property owners were offered a huge concession, significant dollars it was over a quarter million [dollars], she said. They were not imposing a gag order. The request is that they not speak against the project. Michael Barfield, a paralegal who consults primarily on First Amendment litigation, said the developer was within its rights. Its not against the law to buy someones silence Michael Barfield, a paralegal who consults primarily on First Amendment litigation. Its not against the law to buy someones silence, he said. Private parties can waive whatever rights they want. Brush and her neighbors Melinda and Jerry Rodriguez, who spoke highly of their initial meetings with Sorrento Pines representatives, said the letter made them think twice about the developers intentions. But Thomas Hewitt, a co-owner of Sorrento Pines, said his company was simply being responsive to the neighbors input. Essentially, were putting in many more dollars and time, so we just wanted to make sure they would be in favor of development, he said. Unfortunately, they didnt see it that way. The letter the Rodriguezes and Brush received a week before the project went before commissioners for consideration requested that they not express any opposition to Sorrento Pines to any Lake County staff member elected official media or other public outlet. Melinda Rodriguez said they didnt realize the developer was saying shut up or they were not going to give us what [we] wanted. I never thought it was going to come to that and I was very appalled. For commissioners, the big issue was the denseness of the proposed development. Youve heard the numbers, were going to get 100,000 people in Lake in the next eight to 10 years by some projections, Commissioner Sean Parks said. We can be picky, we can be a little choosy in what we do. While local governments are continuing to approve residential developments in Lake Clermont, for example, approved 300-plus homes on Hartwood Marsh Road this month others have raised the bar. Groveland, 30 miles west of downtown Orlando, recently rejected a plan that called for four homes per acre. Other Sorrento residents waged a campaign last year that prevented hundreds of rooftops being built in the area. Density was also an issue last year with the proposed Avington Park development in Sorrento, west of County Road 437 and north of Wolf Branch Road. That project also called for two homes per acre. The developer withdrew the proposal amid opposition from residents who preferred one home for every three acres. The most recent clash between developers and residents included a twist the request not to speak ill of Sorrento Pines. In good conscience, said Brush, who has lived in Sorrento for nearly 30 years, we could not sign. [email protected] or 352-742-5927; Follow him on Twitter at @JasonRuiter1. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/orlandosentinel/~3/LwdALcIcp64/os-sorrento-pines-gag-order-20180125-story.html
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |