Rural residents triumph over mega-development
Jimmy Hester, an east Orange County resident who helped lead the resistance to the proposed development, spray paints a victory message Wednesday as his son, Noble, 4, looks on. Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel Rural residents triumph over mega-development Orlando Sentinel 1.25.24 County commission’s 4-3 vote torpedoes the latest plan for Sustanee By Stephen Hudak Orlando Sentinel Residents in rural east Orange County celebrated Wednesday the dramatic early morning defeat of the latest mega-development proposing to build hundreds of homes on a former cattle ranch in the environmentally sensitive Econ River basin. Many, wearing their red “Stop Urban Sprawl” T-shirts from previous fights, endured a marathon Orange County commission meeting Tuesday to cheer the 4-3 vote against requesting a land-use change from state authorities. But some were convinced they haven...