MONTVERDE, Fla. – Voters in the 34756 ZIP code and across Lake County may have a big decision to make in November when it comes to their property taxes and preserving green space.
A conservation referendum that was first approved by Lake County voters in 2004 is now up for renewal. County commissioners will take a final vote on whether to put it on the ballot at their meeting on May 21.
The county says it would add about $21 a year for the next 20 years to the average property tax bill.
Lake County Commissioner Sean Parks said the 34756 ZIP code has been a hidden gem in Central Florida and he’s hoping to keep it that way. The Central Florida native says preserving green space is not only critical to saving old Florida, but also its future.
“This (area) is ground zero for rapid growth. Just to the south of us and sort of west is the South Lake, Clermont area that’s growing so rapidly, and then just to the east of us is Orlando, Orange County, Apopka. So this beautiful area that we’re in right now, sort of almost kind of sandwiched in between the two, it’s kind of like a little paradise for us here on this side of Lake County,” Parks said.
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Part of what makes it a little paradise, he says, are places like the Green Mountain Scenic Overlook. It was created about a decade ago with funding from the conservation property tax. It’s also the trailhead for an 18-mile loop around Lake Apopka. In addition, the Ferndale Preserve was also acquired with those conservation funds.
“What we hope will happen is that we’ll be able to replicate what we did with the Ferndale Preserve and acquire some more of those lands in this corridor,” Parks said.
Parks says the corridor is also critical for the survival of the Florida panther and black bear.
“The area that we’re in right here, this west side of Lake Apopka all the way up to the Harris Chain of Lakes to the north of us, is now considered a vital wildlife corridor. So does that mean that there won’t be any development that will occur? No, we know that some development will occur in that wildlife corridor, but what we want to do is to try to acquire some of those lands like the Ferndale Preserve along that wildlife corridor to make sure that the wildlife will be able to freely move north and south,” Parks said.
Parks adds preserving green space doesn’t just impact quality of life, but also the local economy.
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“(Ecotourism) is very important,” Parks said. “On any given day, you’ll see a number of people coming in and out from different parts of the of the region and a lot of times we get people on the weekends that are from out of state.”
Back in 2004, 71% of voters approved the referendum. It will need a simple majority to pass in November.
Some opponents of the referendum have raised concerns over how land is selected for conservation and have pointed out that when wildlife preserves are created, the land is removed from property tax rolls in the county.
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