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Residents opposed to the land transfer for Split Oak Forrest relay their concerns to an FWC facilitator at a meeting with Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission staff last week at Osceola Heritage Park to let their opinions and voices be heard. PHOTO/TERRY LLOYD
Upwards of 80 concerned individuals came out to Osceola Heritage Park on Thursday evening to provide input to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission staff on the fate of the nature preserve that straddles the Osceola-Orange County line, north of Narcoossee.
Many in attendance were members of groups like the Friends of Split Oak Forest and Save Split Oak Forest, who have been working for years to prevent a proposed land transfer that enables the Central Florida Expressway Authority to construct an eastern extension of the Osceola Parkway toll road.
At issue is the proposed land transfer of 160 acres in the Split Oak Forest needed for the road construction, which would directly impact at least 60 acres in the southwest corner of the existing Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area (WEA), managed by FWC. At least another 100 acres of the 1,700-acre WEA would be “cut off ” by the construction of the road.
In return, 1,550 acres of undeveloped land immediately adjacent to the east and south of the Split Oak WEA will be added to the preserve.
Split Oak Forest is named for a venerable 200-year-old live oak tree that split down the middle and continues to survive. The Split Oak WEA came into existence in 1994, dedicated to preserving and creating habitat critical to the long-term benefit of state and federally-listed upland animal species, including the gopher tortoise. Before 1994, portions of the land had been used for cattle pasture, a small citrus grove, and turpentine production.
The proposed toll road extension would connect Cyrils Drive to State Road 417. That extension would open up vast tracts of land owned by Suburban Land Reserve, a subsidiary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one of the largest landowners in Florida and the owner of the Deseret Ranches. Tavistock Development Company is partnering with Suburban Land Reserve to develop the property if road access can be secured, and is currently constructing several residential subdivisions in the vicinity.
Many at the Thursday meeting were frustrated that, once again, they were being asked to make comments despite many past meetings, including one with the FWC Commission in December 2023.
From the start of the meeting, many of the attendees were upset at the FWC’s announced format for the meeting, which broke the attendees into six smaller groups to better facilitate capturing comments, perceived by some in the crowd as a way to squelch momentum.
“In all of this, the voice of the people is not being heard,” said Emily Stuart, a member of the Split Oak Coalition, during a breakout secession.
Among issues brought up was the existence of a South Florida Water Management District canal that bisects the new transfer land and presents a barrier to wildlife movement. Questions also arose about whether a proposed budget of $13 million to create and maintain new habitat on the gained parcel over a 30-year period is sufficient. One commenter said that the idea of destroying existing habitat and then recreating new habitat in a different location was akin to, “A zoo just relocating the otter exhibit to a different part of the zoo.”
At several points, it became clear that some FWC staff members brought on to assist as facilitators and recorders were not necessarily well-informed on specific issues, adding to the frustration felt by many. Several FWC Law Enforcement officers were on hand at Heritage Park and their presence was prominent as they circulated throughout the smaller breakout meeting rooms.
Those supporting the preservation of Split Oak have experienced setbacks to thee cause, such as the Florida Communities Trust approval in 2022 to release the land for road construction. They have also been buoyed by victories like the overwhelming passage of a 2020 Orange County referendum to protect Split Oak. On Friday, the day after the FWC Heritage Park meeting, a Circuit Court judge rejected an Osceola County legal challenge to the substance of that referendum.
In addition to the actual fate of Spilt Oak Forest, most of those opposed to the transfer shared concern this precedent will degrade the concept that all portions of the Split Oak WEA were to be conserved in perpetuity, never to be developed. Once that barrier is overcome, the fear is other similarly protected lands across Florida that pose an inconvenience to development can be released for substitute property, regardless of the level of environmental quality.
While many are adamant about preserving Split Oak Forest, other organizations, such as Audubon Florida’s Central Florida Policy Office, have endorsed Osceola County’s proposal, citing the isolation facing the current Split Oak Forest if the adjacent lands are developed, and the overall enhancement to conservation the transfer land represents to what would remain of Split Oak Forest, as well as Moss Park, and the Isle of Pine Preserve.
FWC staff will present public comments and a recommendation to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Board Meeting at May 1 meeting at 9 a.m. at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach.
