The Green Swamp (photo by Richard Law)

Submitted by Doug Shields

The Central Florida Sand Mining Association has filed an application to change our Lake County Comprehensive plan and exclude themselves from open space requirements in the Green Swamp.  The proposed application, linked above in the first sentence, is simple –  it’s a one-sentence modification that states that open space requirements set forth in current policy shall not apply to sand mines.  This would give owners of sand mines an exception to the current protections of the Green Swamp and grant them the legal authority to mine EVERY INCH of the Lake County Green Swamp they can get their hands on!  Wow!

This is, of course, an outrageous proposal.  We need your help to make sure the Lake County Commission, The Lake County Zoning Board, and our county planners, all of whom work FOR US, understand OUR expectations that the Green Swamp (and along with it our water supply and quality of life) remain protected.   Please use the links provided to send an email and let them know the Green Swamp needs to remain a cherished, protected resource!

In addition, the sheer audacity of this application makes us wonder if the sand mining industry thinks they already have the votes in hand to get this through, so it is IMPERATIVE that you help spread the word to other Lake County residents to help us with the ongoing fight to protect our community.  Please forward this message to as many folks as you can and get them to register for the Keep Clermont Rural mailing list and also send their own message on this issue.

Please write these officials TODAY to ask them to protect the Green Swamp by clicking on this link!   If you have trouble getting the link to work, you can send a manual email to:
Commissioner Sullivan – TSullivan@lakecountyfl.gov
Commissioner Campione – LCampione@lakecountyfl.gov
Commissioner Parks – SParks@lakecountyfl.gov
Commissioner Breeden – WBreeden@lakecountyfl.gov
Commissioner Blake – JBlake@lakecountyfl.gov
Planning and Zoning – planning@lakecountyfl.gov
Chief Planner Greene – sgreene@lakecountyfl.gov
Director of Planning and Zoning McClendon – Tmcclendon@lakecountyfl.gov

Thank you!

For further information contact Doug Shields at doug@humanisec.com