MINNEOLA, Fla. — A potential annexation in Minneola is causing a stir among residents who live in Lake County.
Residents living in an unincorporated portion of the county are raising concerns over the annexation that, if approved, would go under the city of Minneola’s jurisdiction.
The proposed area is right off County Road 455. Residents voiced their concerns during Tuesday night’s city council meeting.
Lake County resident Chris Perkins was one of the residents who spoke out during the meeting.
Perkins has lived in his Lake County home for 27 years. It’s the rural charm type of living that had him ditch Orlando and head for the hills.
A recent sign outside his next-door neighbor’s home, though, caught his attention — an indication of what he believes could change his piece of tranquility. The nearby property will be considered for annexation and rezoning from Lake County to the city of Minneola.
But that’s not all.
“There was some documentation provided that there would be low-density city housing that could potentially go in next door,” Perkins said.
His neighbor, who is requesting his property be annexed, is Minneola councilman David Yeager.
Not only does Perkins believe there has been a lack of communication and that this process is happening fast, but he is also concerned there may be a conflict of interest given Yeager’s position. Perkins says he doesn’t want to see low-density housing show up next door, nor does he want to be annexed into the city of Minneola.
“Once that’s annexed, now I’m contiguous, and they can come and annex my property. I don’t want to be in the city, that’s why I came here 27 years ago,” Perkins says.
During Tuesday night’s Minneola council meeting, Yeager says he never planned for low-density housing. Yeager was the former mayor of Minneola in the early 2000s and served on the planning and zoning board. He says he wants to change the land use designation to agriculture.
“I annexed all the property around them, and I intend to make sure that I have a voice for them out in that area. I understand their concerns, but I’m not trying to ruin their life. I like their life,” Yeager says.
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Erick Hernandez says each property owner is entitled to their individual property rights on what they choose to do with their property, including Yeager.
“Based on the information that was sent to us and reviewed by the city attorney, whom we trust, he isn’t breaking any laws whatsoever, nor is he trying to bend any rules either,” Hernandez says.
Hernandez added that if and when it comes back to the council for a vote on whether the city will approve the annexation, Yeager will have to recuse himself.
Residents like Perkins, though, are leery. He fears that just because low-density housing is not on the table now, it doesn’t mean it won’t be on the table down the road after these recent events.
The annexation of property from Lake County to Minneola will continue to be discussed later this summer. At this time, Yeager says he has no plans to rezone the potential annexed land to low-density housing.