Development in Orange County near Florida Everglades Headfaters planned, stokes flooded fears

Orlando, Fla. – A proposed housing estate in Florida wetlands triggered the residents about possible effects on the wildlife and the floods.

This problem is not new, but since developers are your request, 227 tomorrow from arable land to planned development to Rezone, the residents formulate their opposition.

The proposed development called “Tuscana” is a 653,400 square meter project that would be north of State Road 417 and south of the Central Florida Parkway. The plan is the construction of 5,244 apartment buildings and 1,631 hotel rooms.

Kristen St. Jean, a resident of the village of Deer Creek, says that the nearby wetlands of the Shingle Creek are important for avoiding floods as the northernmost head flows of the Everglades.

“In any case, the wetlands behind us in Shingle Creek. It is actually used to pump floods into the floods during larger storms, ”she said.

St. Jean said that houses in the neighborhood do not need flood insurance, but she fears that this and many other things could change if the proposed “Tuscana” development is going.

“Apart from the wildlife and wetlands, will our infrastructure support this from traffic perspective? All possible other things. Rainwater. It only occurred to me that we could even support it there, ”she said. “I think we are really lucky to live here and see the different wild animals and support these different wetlands, and to make it disappear and to displace the animal world even more, I would think that it would be really sad and really worrying for many of us.”

The retired ecologist Gordon Spears explained the decisive role of Shingle Creek in the city's drainage system.

“Shingle Creek is one of the most important drainage streams that drain the Orlando metropolitan region and empty it south towards Kissimmee River. It also has large floodplain on both sides that provide important flood weakening services and the treatment of water to remove toxins, ”said Spears.

While Spears, who previously worked in the planning and zoning committee, recognizes the need for development in order to maintain growth, he emphasizes how important it is to consider environmental impacts and regulations.

“We have to increase the range of housing, but we should do it in an intelligent way where we develop and the places where it makes sense. It does not make sense to destroy our wetlands that already offer valuable functions if there are other areas that are more suitable for development, ”he explained. “If these wetlands are removed, this causes flood problems both upstream and downstream.”

News 6 has contacted developers Kimley-Horn & Associates to get a comment, but has not yet received an answer.

The proposal will be presented to the Development Affection Committee (DRC) on Wednesday morning. According to the district, the DRC will make a recommendation based on the consistency with County code and guidelines. After that, there will be a public hearing before the planning and zoning commission, and these members will also make a recommendation. The last step will be a public hearing before the mayor and board member of the district commissioners will make the final decision.

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