LITHIA, Fla. — What started as a small group of concerned neighbors coming together to fight a proposed development near their homes has quickly grown into something much more than the original members ever could have imagined.
Preserve Rural Lithia is fighting for smart development across Hillsborough County.
“We live out here for a reason, to enjoy the rural way of life. There’s a certain character out here that we all want to enjoy, and when we see sports complexes that don’t belong on rural land being built out here, we were concerned,” said Jessica Scott.
Scott is the President of Preserve Rural Lithia, and she says that was just the beginning. Neighbors came together and created a Facebook group in December 2025, initially to look into the proposed sports complex. Now, the group has nearly 13,000 followers and numerous development projects it’s keeping a close eye on.
“We realized there was a development on CR-39, I think 160 acres of strawberry fields that they’re going to have one home per acre, and then we all live on Dorman road, we noticed an application was put in to develop 190 acres I believe, two homes per acre on this land out here,” she said.
Aside from the Facebook group, they’ve also given out more than 200 signs to neighbors supporting their efforts, and regularly speak at Hillsborough County public meetings.
Neighbors came together and created a Facebook group in December 2025, initially to look into the proposed sports complex. Now, the group has nearly 13,000 followers and numerous development projects it’s keeping a close eye on. (Spectrum News/Fallon Silcox)
Clint Childress lives in FishHawk. He joined the group recently after becoming concerned about a proposed development that would back up to his home. He says there’s strength in numbers.
“I think the group has done a wonderful job and we’re going to keep fighting. It’s not over and you can see folks are all dedicated,” he said.
“We are seeing success. We feel like we are being listened to, so we’re excited about that,” said Scott.
For this group, preserving rural Lithia has become about more than land, it’s about standing together as neighbors.
Preserve Rural Lithia says it has connected with similar groups within Hillsborough County, and even across the state. They want to make it clear — they say they’re not against development, but rather advocate for smart development.