1,800-home Sustanee development denied in Lake Pickett 

Orange County Commissioners denied an application to change the county’s comprehensive plan on Wednesday, which would have opened the door for the 1,400-acre Sustanee development in the Lake Pickett area.

More than 115 people were signed up to speak on the matter. The commission voted 4-3 to deny the request to change the land from rural agricultural to planned development, which would have allowed up to 1,800 single-family homes, 90,000 square feet of community space for amenities, multi-purpose trails, and 18 acres of public facilities, including sites for a middle or K-8 public school and a fire station.

The vote happened in the wee hours on Wednesday morning at the end of the Commission’s regular meeting that started at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.

The county had held two community meetings on the proposed development, each with around 150 people in attendance, most of whom were in opposition to the project, according to county officials. Folks were primarily concerned with “urban sprawl, incompatibility, traffic, safety to bicyclists and pedestrians, and impacts to existing communities and the environment, including wildlife, water quality, and flooding,” according to the county. 

The Seminole County Commission had sent Orange County a letter requesting that the Commission be kept in the loop regarding decisions made on the application because of the impact the proposed development would have on Seminole County. 

Seminole County Commissioner Bob Dallari said the Commission’s biggest concerns with the Sustanee development were transportation and storm water, specifically the water that flows north from Orange County through Chuluota and the Black Hammock. 

“I think they made the right decision. I’m glad that the majority agreed not to transmit (the comprehensive plan changes to the state) so the project is not moving forward,” he said. 

During the meeting, Orange County officials reviewed four failed applications developers have pitched over the past 15 years on the subject property, including Rybolt’s request for 5,000 dwelling units on 1,441 acres in 2009 and Lake Pickett North’s request for 3,200 dwelling units on 1,441 acres in 2013, 1,999 dwelling units on 1,436 acres in 2015 and 2,388 dwelling units on 1,436 acres in 2019. 

“I have seen projects coming forward since the ‘90s,” said Debbie Parrish, speaking on behalf of the Lake Pickett Community Organization, adding that the neighboring The Grow development “worked” because they created lot sizes that transitioned the rural areas well. “This is the best plan to date but it still does not fit in the area. 

“We’re not saying ‘No, don’t build, don’t develop’. We’re saying work with the community and build something that fits there,” she said.