It’s the latest page in the chapter of Split Oak Forest and the battle between Orange and Osceola counties.
It’s about 1,700 acres of conservation land initially acquired to protect habitats in both counties.
At Monday’s court hearing, Orange County attorneys defended its charter amendment that voters approved back in 2020 that essentially protects the forest and its natural land.
“Osceola County has no standing or no right as a matter of inception to challenge a referendum for a ballot that’s for an Orange county charter,” said Lee Bernbaum, attorney for Orange County.
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This coming amid a controversial plan to build a toll road through a portion of the forest. Supporters say it’s needed to keep up with population growth. Critics though, like Valerie Anderson, told me the land should be preserved.
“My position is that Split Oak should be protected in its entirety, forever as it was originally intended,” Anderson said.
Orange County Commissioner Nicole Wilson weighed in on the conversation.
“The county doesn’t support the toll road and even more importantly the county doesn’t support any efforts to lift any of the conservation protections,”
Attorneys for Osceola County argued to a judge they’re against an amendment that would take away a county’s right to regulate their own land. In their lawsuit, attorneys for Osceola County claims Orange County presented a “misleading voter amendment,” claiming it “unilaterally control the lands of Osceola County located within split oak forest.”
“Limiting and regulating the land of another county that violates the [unaudible] powers of this county and of Osceola County and as such it is void,” said Todd Norman, an attorney for Osceola County.
The judge said she’ll take the case under advisement and make a decision at a later date.
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