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published: Monday, February 25, 2013

Commission to address Swamp Hammock

SEBRING - The issue first came to light back in 2011 when neighbors got wind of the project via Facebook posts. The idea was to convert a defunct equestrian housing community into a facility that would permit everything from mud bogging with trucks, to the riding of three- or four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles.
   Dubbed "The Swamp Hammock Recreation Club," plans included facilities for camping, picnicking and even a concert stage that would allow for concerts.
    The 1,135-acre site is on Marguerite Road along the western edge of Highlands County. It sits just north of the Blue Head Ranch, which at one time had been approved for a massive housing development.
   However, the proposed Swamp Hammock Recreational Club also sits adjacent to cattle and dairy operations and is just south of several residential developments. Opponents there have charged that having loud trucks and motorcycles, coupled with a steady stream of heavy traffic will affect their livelihoods and their quality of life.
   In August of last year, developers held an open house to show off the property and what they had planned. At that time, they suggested nearly 50 different activities ranging from mud bogging to an obstacle course with amenities such as log cabins, showers and even a heli-pad.
   Neighbors, however, remained unimpressed, saying that such a facility would disturb their peaceful way of life, affect the production of their livestock and create regular traffic jams - inconveniencing the neighbors and tearing up local roads.
   Last month, the Highlands County Planning and Zoning Board gave approval to the project. The 6-2 vote sends the matter to the Highlands County Board of County Commission. The public hearing to consider a zoning change for the property from an agricultural district to a planned development district is basically the only thing of consequence on the agenda for the commission's Tuesday meeting, which also will be the monthly night meeting.
   Commissioners will first look at recommendations made by the county's planning and zoning commission, which imposed 26 different conditions on the project. Such things as guarantees of law enforcement on the property during events, protection of wetlands, sewage disposal and traffic control have been spelled out as part of the approval process. Those conditions could be further modified by commissioners at their Tuesday night session.
   Residents on both sides of the issue have been marshalling their forces for what is expected to be a long an complex discussion on the issue.
   The meeting will commence at 5 p.m. in the Highlands County Government Center. It also will be broadcast on Comcast Cable channel six and over the Internet through the Highlands County Clerk of the Courts website.

PROPERTY RIGHTS FIRST (by: GINGERLEEDREAD - 3/3/2013)

Each Property Owner has rights. The right to do with their own property what they will. Neither Property Owner should be putting the choice into the local governments hands to decide, Thats not democratic, thats socialist and not the American way and the more you give government the right to control whats yours over yourself you lose your rights. If they dont like what the other is doing they have options. The option to build a wall to block out what they dont like, or to buy out the property beside them if they dont like whats going on next to them. Of course there is also the option to accept the other property owners to equal rights to your own. I would like to see the County Commissioners keep their noses out of our rights and let the property owners decide what they want to do with what they own. The Lawyer in all of this is REALLY who the commission should be addressing in his complete failure of position espcially for the amount of tax payers monies he is being paid to do his job and has coompletly screwed up on this one. If the County Commission is going to let actions like this go on I think I want to be hired as the County Lawyer and sit there and collect a big paycheck for no viable work on the part of the tax payer and citizens I would of at least gave some kind of response to what I was being asked. What a TOTAL IZZUM SKIZZUM!!!

SWAMP (by: Snooks - 2/27/2013)

Sorry but if it couldn't go as equestrian place what makes u think it will go as mud bogging? If it gets approved, they had best have EVERYTHING done & not just the mud bog.. all they are after is to do that.. where is the money coming from to finance this anyways? heliport? what about FAA regs on that? you just can't have a concrete pad.. safety equipt, fuel, etc.. good ole boys at work again & tax break? give me a break...

swamp hammock (by: brandon - 2/27/2013)

i think they should go ahead and do it because look at all the help they will be doing for us bringing the bands in for us thats some money for us right there so they need to do it

no tax increase (by: Taxed to Death and Mad - 2/26/2013)

Did you know our zoning and county admin, June Fisher, think that this full blown commercial venture should not have to pay commercial tax rates? See it here....."FISCAL IMPACT: The zoning change will not change the Ad Valorem tax base of this property if approved."
http://www.hcbcc.net/county_commissioners/docs/agendabackup.pdf
All the uses they are wanting, except Mudding, is currently covered in either our existing Business/Commercial or Industrial zoning....so why should they not have to pay full tax rates?
You will have precedent for others to appeal their tax categories based on whatever standard was used for Swamp Hammock. Probably Disney will be moving some theme parks down here, where they can be taxed AG if they have a few giraffe's on the property!

Could you just imagine? (by: Blindman - 2/25/2013)

Could anyone imagine if the equestrian development had been a success with say 65% of the properties sold and the Braha family still owning the remaining 35% of the parcels for sale and then lets say the Skipper Family decided to turn some of their land into a Swamp Hammock Mud Bog right next door to this development. What would those residents have to say about it... but better yet WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BRAHA FAMILY WOULD HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT? I guarantee they would be vehemently opposed to it. And now you see how people can be and you get the rest of the story.