Despite opposition, Florida board OKs Split Oak Forest road project

ORLANDO, Fla. – Environmental advocates are livid after a Florida board accredited a challenge to increase a toll street by way of a protected forest in Orange and Osceola counties.

After greater than 4 hours of public feedback, the Florida Communities Belief Board Wednesday unanimously accredited a plan to increase Osceola Parkway by way of a part of Break up Oak Forest.

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“Break up Oak has sure protections and these protections are held by completely different folks as a way to defend Break up Oak additional,” stated Valerie Anderson, president of Buddies of Break up Oak. “That is an company that holds one of many protections for Break up Oak and this company simply stated we’re not going to guard it.”

Break up Oak, which spans over 1,700 acres, was initially put aside for conservation. In December of 2019, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and 4 Orange County commissioners accredited an $800 million toll street by way of it.

“Folks had been so outraged at what occurred, there that this conservation land that was purchased and paid for by the general public, was so simply dismantled despite the fact that there have been 60-something folks there objecting it,” stated Commissioner Nicole Wilson, one of many commissioners who voted in opposition to the plan in 2019.

In 2020, Orange County voters handed a referendum opposing the street.

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“We’re livid,” Anderson stated. “These are speculated to be the folks defending our public lands and so they didn’t appear to care. Orange County voters stated we don’t desire a street by way of any a part of Break up Oak.”

One girl commenting throughout Wednesday’s assembly requested why residents should beg governments to comply with what the folks need.

“It was protected, as you already know, a lot of lands for endangered species and a wildlife hall, and many actually high-quality habitat by each counties,” Anderson stated. “Each agreed to guard it without end again in 1994 and now they’re going again on their guarantees.”

Anderson stated the Buddies of Break up Oak Forest at the moment are going to have to return to the county governments and combat the street there, because the state board’s resolution throws the choice again to Orange and Osceola counties.