LAKE COUNTY, Fl. – Picturesque lakes, historic downtowns and an overall more relaxed way of living is what typically draws people to Lake County. However, in recent years, the overdevelopment has been obvious to some living there.
For context, in 2025, the US Census had a population estimate of the county to be over 450,000 people. In 2020, the estimate was just around 380,000.
“There’s a lot of land that could be developed and that’s why it’s being developed, but at this point we need to protect what remains of the rural lands in Lake County,” said Mt. Dora Mayor James Homich.
He’s written up a joint planning agreement which would essentially stop the rezoning of rural lands to suburban use, if approved.
“Lake County, just recently up at Lake Yale, just converted 208 acres of rural land to urban low density, that’s the type of change we don’t want,” said Homich.
But does this violate Senate Bill 180, which limits municipalities power when it comes to restricting development?
Mayor Homich doesn’t believe so. “I’m sure the governor may disagree with me or the legislature.”
County Commissioner Leslie Campione agrees with the concept, actually saying she’s proposed the idea before.
“It would take the city officials to want to do it, to agree to do it, I can’t speak for them but thus far, that has not been something they’re willing to do,” said Commissioner Campione.
She does believe there is an easier way to get it done without the stress of violating the law.
“Let’s just ask the city to not annex rural and rural transition areas – so that’s the easiest, cleanest, fastest way, most effective way really because then you don’t have to worry about the SB 180 challenge," Campione explained.
Michael Williams used to live in the area and says since he’s left Lake County has been booming with people.
“It looks overdeveloped now, I mean we moved away four years ago and I couldn’t believe the change,” said Williams.
The JPA will be discussed at an upcoming planning meeting on May 18.