ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County and the city of Orlando appear to be at odds regarding a private land development worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
On Monday, the Orange County Commission and Orlando City Council plan to address the plan to annex land to the city as part of an agreement with Tavistock Development.
The Sunbridge development is more than 20,000 acres, and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said he was left in the dark about any discussions with the city.
He said the county has spent years conducting its own permitting plans with the developer.
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The county’s attorney sent a letter to the city of Orlando, asking it to pause its proposed ordinance.
In the letter, the county wrote, “The study reveals several deficiencies. Namely, police is 9 miles away; fire is 8 miles away.”
It also went on to express concern there wasn’t any solid waste or parks in the plans, and the annexation “will make the planned development fail.”
However, a spokesperson for the city of Orlando sent an email on Friday defending the plan, saying it would create “a more efficient consolidation of development in this area.”
The message went on to include, “It’s important to note, a majority of the proposed annexed property has development plans already approved by Orange County and development on those properties will remain consistent with those approvals.”
A first reading of the ordinance is expected to be read on Monday.
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