After an outpouring of opposition by area residents, a proposed rural development under Sumter County’s new conservation subdivision ordinance was rejected by commissioners Tuesday night on a 3-2 vote.
The developer proposed building 87 homes on a 255-acre site along County Road 476 west of Interstate 75 and southwest of Bushnell.
Under the conservation subdivision ordinance, developers are allowed to build homes in rural areas if they agree to conserve and never build on at least half of the property.
County officials say it provides a way to ensure that rural land would be preserved.
But area residents said the project would open the floodgates to development in rural areas where it would not be permitted otherwise.
Commissioners spent 7 ½ hours considering two contentious land use projects, taking a vote on the second one shortly before 1:30 a.m. Every commissioner revealed they met individually before the meeting with Ocala attorney Robert Batsel, who represented both cases.
Batsel said the CR 476 project would be an equestrian community, where residents would keep horses in a shared boarding facility and could use trails in the preservation area.
Homes on one-acre lots with wells and septic systems would be built along a curving road through the center of the land with 137 acres preserved on both sides.
Commissioner Jefrey Bogue, who said he owns six horses, was the first to object.
“Where the hell are you going to put 87 horses?” he asked Batsel, assuming every family has a horse. “I don’t feel this is consistent with the intent of the conservation subdivision ordinance.”
Bogue said he expected lots no smaller than three acres.
The amount of land preserved is part of the calculation for lot sizes.
Commissioner Deb Butterfield, who voted with County Chairman Don Wiley to approve the project, said the developer was following the rules and that “we created the conservation ordinance for a purpose.”
Voting to reject the rezoning for the property were Bogue along with commissioners Todd Coon and Andy Bilardello.
During a lengthy public hearing, residents said the project would encourage rampant rural development west of the interstate.
Karen Trimley said the project violates other parts of the county’s comprehensive plan, which generally restricts development to urban service areas. These areas are where cities expect to grow eventually and provide city services.
“It doesn’t seem it’s a good fit for the current location,” she said.
Tom Buffington said he was concerned about the impact on the Florida aquifer, which provides drinking water for central Florida.
Other residents, including Nancy Newhouse, said CR 476 is not equipped to handle the increased traffic.
“476 is a washboard,” she asid. “It’s just a rough road, potholes all over the place.”
Kathy Arnold said the project would have a “domino effect,” spurring other large landowners to build homes in exchange for preserving part of their land.