OKEECHOBEE – Residents of Blue Cypress Golf and RV Resort packed the Jan. 11 meeting of the Okeechobee County Commission to oppose a request for rezoning of a neighboring property.

Silver Cypress Park, LLC, owned by Fardean and  Annette Alcott, is a  16-acre property at 14045 U.S. Highway 441 S.E. Current zoning is Agricultural. The property owners have requested a change to Residential Mobile Home (RMH).

Blue Cypress resident Lon Sloan said the 248 property owners in Blue Cypress oppose the zoning change.

“We are surrounded by pastures, farms and ranches,” he said.  

Sloan also questioned the impact this could have on the nearby Lakeside Ranch Stormwater Treatment Area (STA). “Lakeside Ranch STA plays a crucial role in Lake Okeechobee Watershed,” he added.

He said the developers are advertising the property as having access to Lake Okeechobee. While Blue Cypress residents own the property to the center of the canal, the other half of the canal and a strip of land on that side of the canal are owned by South Florida Water Management District.

He presented the commissioners with a packet of information detailing questions and concerns from Blue Cypress residents.

“Will it just be another fish camp that spreads furniture, mattresses and trash along 441?” he asked.

“Blue Cypress has 248 units. Our properties are well kept. You have never seen our trash on 441,” he said.

Susie Rulong said Blue Cypress is a 55-plus park with many full-time residents. She said the park requires background checks for new residents.

“Our park is beautiful. It’s well kept, and we are proud of it,” she said.

Bob Williams said he has lived at Blue Cypress residence since 2002. “We have concerns about groundwater runoff,” he said. “Our lakes are retention ponds to take care of the surface water. If they get a sewer system close to our lakes, and that sewer system leaks, we have a lot of concerns,” he said.

He asked board to send it back to the planning commission.

“I think you’re putting the cart before the horse with this plan,” said Andrew Titus.

“You guys are supposed to be following the comprehensive plan,” he said. “I have a right as a citizen to expect this comprehensive plan to be followed.”

The developers’ representative agreed to hold a meeting to explain their plans to the Blue Cypress residents before Feb. 22. Commission action on the proposed zoning change was postponed until their Feb. 22 meeting.

“We’ll be back,” said one Blue Cypress resident as the group filed out of the commission meeting room.