Lake County Commission tables water projects discussion until Feb. 26th

TAVARES - The Lake County Commission on Tuesday tabled two hot-button issues and directed staff to work on the design of a Groveland Four memorial.

After many spoke against a development in the Green Swamp, the board unanimously agreed to postpone a vote on a request from Hilochee Partners to rezone almost 285 acres in the Green Swamp. The developer applied to turn this agricultural land into a planned unit development of a 29-lot subdivision in the Groveland area of unincorporated Lake County.

Residents also showed up to voice their concerns about a proposed agreement between the county and a wetlands mitigation company. The company, Blackwater Creek Wetlands Mitigation, has been contracted by the St. Johns River Water Management District to remove sand, soil and other materials from the Lake Norris Conservation Area in Eustis. The proposed agreement to restore wetlands would bring in $62,900 in revenue to the county over the next five years.

Both will be discussed again at the commission’s Feb. 26 meeting.