08/28/2026
BOCC Meeting Update from Commissioner Leslie Campione:
Several key things happened this past Tuesday (August 25, 2026) at the Board of County Commissioners’ meeting (the “BCC”).
The County Commission was notified the Islamic Center rezoning in Clermont was withdrawn by the applicant and will not be heard on September 1. If it is resubmitted in the future it would have to go back to the Planning & Zoning Board prior to a hearing at the BCC.
Data Centers: a moratorium ordinance was adopted 5-0 on first reading which creates a 90 day moratorium for any applications related to data centers that store information for outside entities. This applies to the unincorporated area only. Cities have jurisdiction over land use matters within their cities - just as cities can annex land or rezone property in their jurisdiction and the County Commission has no authority to stop them.
The ordinance exempts data centers related to hospitals, colleges, power companies, 911 dispatch centers, etc. where data is collected for the activities related to the business or institution that uses this data.
This 90 day moratorium will be in place while a permanent ordinance is formulated to address specific criteria and restrictions related to issues such as water usage, heat, sound, vibrations, electricity and energy sources. The ordinance was drafted and advertised as a 12 month moratorium, but several motions were made and failed, amended, and there was a lot of discussion.
I supported the longer moratorium due to the complexity of the issue and emerging technology and methods, with the understanding that the timeframe could be shortened if research was completed and a permanent ordinance was adopted that adequately protected residents, the community and the environment. I am extremely concerned that without a moratorium in place immediately, an application could be submitted for land that is already zoned industrial - in which case there would be no regulations limiting power or water usage and addressing other obvious concerns. Commissioner Sabatini agreed with me, and we felt this allowed enough time to establish thresholds, site requirements and methodologies to protect Lake County residents and if it could be done sooner, then it would be.
Commissioners Morris and Smith were concerned about the stigma created for other business opportunities if a moratorium of any kind was adopted, and they preferred no moratorium or pause at all. Commissioner Parks preferred adopting a conditional use permit that established thresholds and criteria that would be applied on a case by case basis if any applications were received, but under this proposal there would be a gap where applications for existing industrial sites would have to be processed (with no limitations at all).
Establishing a conditional use permit process, with sufficiently defined criteria and thresholds that could never be exceeded (including the right for denial if concerns could not be addressed) had the support of a majority of the Commissioners. But again, the problem was the there would be a gap while the conditional use permit ordinance was prepared, advertised, reviewed by Planning and Zoning and then presented to the BCC.
Ultimately it was agreed by all five Commissioners to impose a 90 day moratorium (aka pause, freeze) to prevent any applications from being processed thereby allowing enough time for a conditional use permit (CUP) ordinance for data centers to be prepared. In order to get support for the 90 day moratorium, it was agreed the ordinance would be referenced as a “freeze” or “pause” or some other terminology other than moratorium. There will be a second hearing on this 90 day freeze on September 8, at 5:05 pm in the BCC Chambers in Tavares. If adopted on September 8, this will provide a 90 day window to get a permanent CUP process in place to address data centers that is acceptable to at least 3 out of 5 commissioners.
Transportation:
There was an approval to utilize Mt. Plymouth-Sorrento CRA (community redevelopment area) Funds to pay for intersection improvements at CR 437 South and Sorrento Ave (aka 46, next to Merv’s Mowers). This will allow cars turning East to have their own turn lane.
There was an update on the Haynes Creek Bridge repairs and a description of the traffic control measures undertaken to help alleviate delays - but there is no easy detour around this location. West bound has experienced the longest delays. This repair work is occurring day and night (24-7) in order to speed up the process but there is no way to avoid the need to close one lane at all times. It is anticipated to take 45 days to complete the project. Additional detour signs are being added, and notifications of any changes will be posted on the County’s FB page and through press releases.
County Comprehensive Plan Revisions:
The County is currently updating its growth management Comprehensive Plan as required by State law. This plan only applies to the unincorporated area - cities have their own Comprehensive Plans. Updates are required every 7 years and Comprehensive Plans are required to have a 30 year planning horizon. No density is being added! This is extremely important.
Even with population projections, a review of each of the City’s Comprehensive Plans and the County’s Plan and the existing land use designations, there is no need for additional density to be added to accommodate population projections. The relevance of this cannot be overstated, and City residents should be aware that there is technically no need for annexations to occur in order to meet population needs.
The County’s Plan is primarily being updated to correct inconsistencies within the existing Comprehensive Plan and to fix inconsistencies between the Comprehensive Plan and the County’s Land Development Regulations. The County’s Land Development Regulations are also being re-written with the goal of substantially improving these regulations including but not limited to adding more substantial landscape and vegetative buffers, using native and Florida friendly vegetation that requires less water, providing greater protection for habitat and wildlife corridors, and addressing greater transportation coordination between the county and cities.
I believe the Comprehensive Plan should recognize current State funding deficiencies and until those deficiencies are corrected the County should limit road impacts from Comprehensive Plan land use changes that exceed the current Comprehensive Plan density (specifically including annexations) unless there are offsetting density reductions.
Lake County has many areas on its Comprehensive Plan designated as Rural and Rural Protection, but as noted above, unless the Cities decide to leave these areas alone and not annex them the BCC has no authority to prevent the annexation of these properties. While there may be valid reasons for making exceptions in limited circumstances, the future of Lake County’s landscape and the preservation of our current established rural communities (for example where there are 5 and 10 acre homesites and pastures) rests with the elected officials in the 14 municipalities in Lake County. I say this to emphasize the importance of City residents being involved and City officials taking a position on this issue.
In a related issue, the BCC voted to remove “density bonuses” from the rural conservation design subdivision process. This subdivision process can be used to cluster homes to create more common open space and conservation areas - it is a tool to lessen impacts on forests, wildlife, natural areas, and pastures by grouping homes on smaller lots in order to allow larger undisturbed areas to stay intact as “common” open space. The density bonuses were intended to incentivize this type of design. I supported removing the bonuses because I don’t believe additional housing units should be used as an incentive and adding units actually defeated the purpose of this concept.
Fairgrounds:
I favor utilizing an existing grant to install an open air rodeo and barrel racing arena on the new fairgrounds site and create a venue for these events with basic infrastructure - nothing excessive, but addressing the basic things needed to make this a successful venue that generates money that covers the cost of managing and maintaining this venue. This venue could be utilized for FFA and 4-H activities and exhibits, and livestock auctions, and by moving forward immediately this facility it could serve as the first phase (cornerstone) of a new fairgrounds site. It has always been anticipated that an expo center with air-conditioned space would be constructed that would generate sufficient revenues to pay for itself as part of a new fairgrounds site - this larger, more expensive building could be undertaken as phase 2. The existing grant funds must be used by June, 2027 or they will be forfeited, and an open air pavilion similar to those that regularly hosts these events would generate revenue and would be used by residents and visitors.
Others on the Board prefer entering into a partnership contract with a large capital finance company to construct a massive indoor facility that could function as major event and sporting center, including an indoor rodeo. The capital finance company would provide the funds and operate the facility with a percentage of revenues going to the County and the County would retain the fee simple ownership with a 30 year lease to the finance company. If these grandiose plans make financial sense for Lake County, do not create any financial burden on the taxpayers and create positive economic activity and financial return with sufficient ongoing County control to assure good management, this might be a good route. But I do not favor a single source contract process (there should be competition). In addition, any such business plan needs to be fully examined to make sure Lake County residents truly benefit from this approach and all risks are eliminated.
A decision was made to pursue both tracks concurrently so that a final decision could be made in the next couple months to assure the existing grant funds are not forfeited.
