County Commission approves upscale RV Park; will try evening meeting for more public input

Commissioners approved the PUD unanimously. They had no questions for Eden and there was no public input.

Eden had asked two years ago to be annexed by Inverness rather than work with the county after permitting disputes arose over the project. The resort will sit alongside Lake Spivey east of Inverness on State Road 44. The county sued the city to stop the annexation and won the case earlier this year.

Under the PUD, Preservation Point RV Resort would be limited to no more than 1,000 RV sites over three phases. The plan leaves the wetland areas undeveloped.

It also calls for a 25-foot vegetative buffer along all wetlands. It also requires all structures, including storage sheds, utility buildings, restrooms and commercial buildings, to maintain at least a 35-foot setback to all wetlands. A berm and swale that meets land development code (LDC) requirements must be maintained between any structure less than 50 feet from the wetland.

The PUD also limits the RV’s clubhouse to a maximum of 15,000 square foot and the welcome center to no more than 3,600 square feet.

The canoe livery shall be limited to a 5,000 square foot structure.

The commission also dictated that at a minimum, the first phase of the project shall include amenities such as the clubhouse and/or fishing pier, picnic area, pools and most of the bicycle and pedestrian trails.

Under the PUD an initially proposed golf course is deleted.

The PUD also requires Eden to provide sidewalks, pedestrian trails, cart paths or other pedestrian connections to connect RV sites throughout the park

The PUD also limits the project to one entrance from State Road 44 and the gated entrance must meet the requirements of the county’s land use code.

Eden said during the public hearing that the theme of the park was still environmentally friendly.

Also in county commission business the commission granted Commissioner Ruthie Schlabach’s request to hold one upcoming commission meeting in the evening to allow more public input and see if there is public interest.

Commission Chairman Ron Kitchen pointed out that members of the public have not attended evening meetings in the past, but new commissioners should have the opportunity to try their proposals.

“Let’s give it a try,” Kitchen said.

Commissioner Scott Carnahan warned that evening meetings would not likely succeed.

“Seems like no one shows up,” Carnahan said. “I just don’t think you’ll have the turnout.”

But the commission agreed to have time set aside beginning 5:30 p.m. for public input during the commission’s Feb. 22 meeting.

Also in commission business, Commissioner Schlabach recommended the commission discuss and create a plan to try and stop any continuation of the Florida Turnpike through any county environmentally sensitive land “vulnerable communities.”

But other commissioners asked that the commission wait before the Florida Department of Transportation decide on some proposed routes.

Commission Chairman Ron Kitchen said that all the commission now has to work with are rumors and there are now proposed routes to defend against.

“I don’t like to jump out in front of something (until I know) what the proposal is,” Kitchen said.

Kitchen proposed, and the other commissioners agreed, to wait until the FDOT finish its public meetings and input collection.

“Then we’ll have the data,” Kitchen said.