Protesters rallied Wednesday outside the Orange County Administration building, hoping to stop plans for two mega-developments in east Orange County.

The developments go up for hearings soon.

  • East of the Econ protested development plans for the east Orange County area
  • Lake Pickett North and Lake Pickett South, considered an agrihood
  • Hearing held June 14

“Save the Econ, hold the line!” dozens chanted in unison in downtown Orlando.

“We made our investment in a rural area, and that investment should be protected,” said Emily Bonilla. The woman moved to Corner Lake Estates with her husband and two children 12 years ago, looking for peace and serenity.

“We bought out here to get away from the city,” she said. “I wanted to raise my children in a more country setting.”

However, three years ago there were rumblings of future plans: two mega developments along Lake Pickett Road, called Lake Pickett North and South.

“We’ve been invested in this community. We love the schools, love the wildlife, the environment. And we’re not going to see it destroyed,” said Bonilla, who started Save East Orlando -- which turned into East of the Econ -- to fight the proposals. The group has gotten over 10,000 people to sign a petition. The neighborhood’s HOA also hired a lawyer.

“Their constituents are saying 'no, we don’t want this development,'” said Josephine Balzac, who is representing Corner Lake Estates HOA. Balzac said her team has been gathering public records and meeting with commissioners in an effort to stop the developments from happening.

“The fact that the voices of the people aren’t being heard is significant,” she said. Balzac cited not only environmental issues and traffic jams tied to the projects, but mounting opposition. “Those rights need to be protected over monetary interest. I think development is good, as long as it’s being done sustainably.”

Developers, however, argue that their projects will be fitting with the “natural beauty of the area” and “brings value” to the surrounding area.

Sean Froelich, the developer for Lake Pickett North, said his project will feature over 10 miles of walking, jogging and biking trails, connecting the community to Sandhill Conservation Park.

Regarding opposition, Froelich said his team has been meeting with neighbors and community leaders to solicit concerns and present their own solutions.

“As residents understand the facts, there are many residents who do support the project,” he said, referencing $100 million in proposed roadway improvements backed by developers in conjunction with Orange County government.

“After build out and roadway improvements, traffic in this area will be better than it is today.”

A spokesperson for developer Dwight Saathoff, who is working on Lake Pickett South, also known as The Grow, said his community, dubbed an “agrihood,” will include a town center, community farm and thousands of homes.

“If it’s all paved over and bulldozed, they lost what they invested in,” said Bonilla, looking through a barbed-wired fence at the future site of Lake Pickett South, adjacent to Corner Lake Estates.

Bonilla said dissatisfaction in the process is what propelled her to run for the District 5 Commission seat, among a handful of other candidates.

“We all should have the choice of where we want to live,” she said. “And that shouldn’t be taken away from us, because someone else wants to profit off of turning it into something else, after we already made our investments in it.”

Commissioners will vote on final approval of Lake Pickett South and approval for the northern development to be transmitted during their hearing on Tuesday, June 14.