ORLANDO, Fla. – A proposed housing development on Florida wetlands has sparked concern among residents about potential impacts on wildlife and flooding.
This issue is not new, but as developers push forward with their request to rezone 227 acres from Farmland to Planned Development, residents are voicing their opposition.
The proposed development, named “Tuscana,” is a 653,400-square-foot project that would be located north of State Road 417 and south of Central Florida Parkway. The plan is to build 5,244 multi-family dwelling units and 1,631 hotel rooms.
Kristen St. Jean, a resident of Deer Creek Village, says nearby Shingle Creek wetlands, considered to be the northernmost headwaters of the Everglades, are important in avoiding flooding.
“Definitely the wetlands behind us in Shingle Creek. It’s actually used to pump floodwaters into during major storms,” she said.
St. Jean said homes in the neighborhood do not require flood insurance, but she fears this and many other things could change if the proposed “Tuscana” development proceeds.
“What I immediately think, aside from the wildlife and the wetlands, is how is our infrastructure going to support that from a traffic perspective? All kinds of other things. Stormwater. It just blows my mind that we could even support that over there,” she said. “I think we’re really lucky to live here and to be able to see the different wildlife and support these different wetlands, and to have that go away and displace the wildlife even more, I think would be just really sad and really concerning for a lot of us.”
Retired ecologist Gordon Spears explained the critical role of Shingle Creek in the city’s drainage system.
“Shingle Creek is one of the main drainage creeks that drains the Orlando metropolitan area, draining it to the south towards the Kissimmee River. It also has large floodplains on either side that provide important floodwater attenuation services and treatment of water to remove toxins,” Spears said.
While Spears, who previously served on the Planning and Zoning Commission, acknowledges the need for development to sustain growth, he emphasizes the importance of considering environmental impacts and regulations.
“We need to increase the housing supply, but we should do it in a smart way, where we’re developing, and the places where it makes the most sense. It doesn’t make sense to destroy our wetlands that are already providing valuable functions when there are other areas that are more appropriate for development,” he explained. “When these wetlands are removed, then it causes flooding problems both upstream and downstream.”
News 6 reached out to the developers, Kimley-Horn & Associates, for comment but has yet to receive a response.
The proposal will be presented to the Development Review Committee (DRC) on Wednesday morning. According to the county, DRC will make a recommendation based on consistency with county code and policies. After that, there will be a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission, and those members will also make a recommendation. The final step will be a public hearing before the mayor and Board of County Commissioners, who will have the final decision.
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