ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County commissioners took a stand Wednesday night to block a toll road through Split Oak Forest.
Commissioners voted 4-3 after dozens of advocates rallied outside the county administration building.
The Central Florida Expressway Authority will likely now have to sue in order to take more county-owned land for the road.
[WATCH: Rally opposes toll road through Split Oak Forest]
The disputed land includes environmentally-sensitive areas, including part of Eagles Roost Park.
Supporters say the move gives the county more control while opponents warn a highway through the forest could damage wildlife.
“It sets a really dangerous precedent for future conservation lands throughout the state,” conservation advocate Lee Perry said. “(...) We need to have local control over our growth, and in order to do that, we need to stop bad decisions from our past.”
The state approved the road in 2024, meaning the debate over how to protect the historic forest is expected to continue as CFX prepares its next move.
[MORE: Expressway authority approves toll road through Split Oak Forest]