By ED BALDRIDGE
ed.baldridge@newssun.com
SEBRING -- Cape Coral developer Greg Eagle, the architect behind the proposed Eagle Training Center outside of Venus, was ordered last week to turn over 83 properties in court judgments, and faces over $20 million in foreclosures.
Eagle's proposed 7,700-acre military training center in Southwest Highlands County created an upswell of popular opinion over the past six months as Venus residents and regional environmentalists banded together to protest the building of the facility.
County Commissioners voted no to rezoning and also decided against a Stipulated Settlement Agreement with the Department of Community Affairs in two separate meetings this month, putting the proposed gunnery range and large airstrip in a holding pattern.
Now several lenders -- including the First National Bank of Pennsylvania, which filed the $17 million foreclosure lawsuit against Eagle on Oct. 5 -- are seeking relief from Lee Circuit Judge Michael McHugh on delinquent mortgages and loans.
Last Thursday's order by McHugh called for Eagle to give up the 83 properties to the lender, 5200 Ranch LLC, all the stock in Greg W. Eagle PA, plus a $450,000 promissory note from Acme Seafood Inc. based in Cape Coral.
According to an article in The (Fort Meyers) News-Press, an additional eight other lenders have hit Eagle with foreclosure lawsuits in Lee circuit court.
Additionally, Lee County Tax Collector records show properties owned or represented as trustee by Eagle delinquent in more than $2 million in unpaid property taxes.
Those against the development in highlands county are not surprised by the turn of events.
"Real Estate professionals may be desperate in these hard economic times," representative from No Eagle Training Center, Inc. Paula House stated in an e-mail.
"This is why it is important for planning and zoning staff to be extra vigilante in order to insure proposed projects are consistent and compatible with locally adopted land use laws."
"We are grateful to our Highlands County commissioners and planning and zoning staff for ultimately turning down a development that was so inappropriate for the proposed location," House added.
House and her organization turned out in numbers to county commission meetings to voice their opinion about the training facility.
The first meeting, held on Oct. 6, lasted an amazing 11 hours as testimony was given for and against the proposed facility.
Although proponents assured commissioners that more than 250 jobs would be created, citizens of Venus and the surrounding area did not like the idea of a military training center in their back yard.
"This is wrong," said Venus resident Randy Miller before the commission voted on Oct. 6.
"The people in Venus don't want this. Are you just gonna shove this down our throats?
"Do the right thing and vote the will of the people in Venus, let our voices be heard," Miller said.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 - www.newssun.com/1028-eb-eagle-troubles