The meeting was December 5th from 8:30am to 5pm at the Hyatt Regency Orlando at 9801 International Drive. This blog post provided resources for folks interested in attending and speaking in opposition to FWC releasing its conservation easements over Split Oak Forest.

Confused? Jump to the FAQ

Folk who can attend the meeting should plan to arrive by 8:30am to sign up to speak¹.

We'll be hanging around the lobby area, find us and then sign up to speak on Split Oak (Item 7E)² with an FWC staff member holding a tablet. Ask them to validate your parking.

You should be able to relax until at least 9:30 when the awards are slated to end. I don't know when we'll know when Split Oak is up.

Please attend even if you're hesitant to speak - you can plan a speech and then just walk up to the mic and say "I oppose" and then walk away. It counts just as much.

• FWC Agenda webpage
• Memorandum on the Agenda Item (Item 7e)
• FOSOF Event webpage
• FOSOF Facebook event
• Current FWC Conservation Easement Acceptance and Release Policy
• Report on the proposed mitigation land for Split Oak

Recommendations for comments

Comment both online ahead of time and plan to be there and speak in person, if at all possible. I'm coordinating speakers, so please email me if you can ahead of time so that we can be as effective as possible together.

Focus on opposing FWC releasing their conservation easements in the Osceola County part of Split Oak. Relay how much Split Oak means to you in its entirety. Comment on your historical involvement in protecting Split Oak.

Letters and comments already submitted to FWC

Impactful quotes are shown first, with the author or organization below with their full letters linked. Graphics from that letter are shown below the citation.

If this application is approved it threatens the very foundations of conservation land protections under the Florida Constitution, Florida law, and agency regulations on a state-wide basis. As of the date of this letter, we have over 17,000 petition signatures in opposition to the Project. While the Proposed
Release raises numerous legal, practical, and moral questions, it is most critical to keep in mind the dangerous precedent that would be set if FWC approves the Proposed Release, thereby giving up conservation lands and conservation easement rights that are supposed to be protected in perpetuity
at the behest of development interests.

Friends of Split Oak Forest read full letter

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There is no bona fide conservation rationale for this proposal, and in fact the construction of a toll road is in direct conflict with the stated mission of the SOFWEA. On page 4 of the management plan [...] it states “The following mission statement was developed and approved by the FWC and Orange and Osceola Counties to guide management activities at the SOFWEA. ‘It shall be the primary management missions at SOFWEA to manage plant communities and public use in a manner that gives first consideration to the habitat needs and life history requirements of the gopher tortoise.’” We see no positive conservation benefit from loss and fragmentation of habitat for gopher tortoises by this project, as proposed.

Gopher Tortoise Council read full letter

Split Oak Forest was acquired to serve as mitigation for destruction of lands for development elsewhere in central Florida. Allowing the release of this perpetual conservation easement would establish a precident to allow lands protected through the discontinued FWC Gopher Tortoise Mitigation Park Program and the Preservation 2000 bond-funded program to be transferred and utilized for uses that are inconsistent with the environmental protection objectives for which they were acquired. This action would violate and erode the public’s trust and support for the current Florida Forever land protection program and for the concept of offsetting development’s impacts through mitigation. If Split Oak Forest is allowed to be fragmented and a significant portion converted to highly incompatible use as a toll highway where there are viable alternative routes, then no state or local land acquired and managed for conservation would be safe from later conversion to uses that are completely inconsistent for the purposes they were acquired.

Defenders of Wildlife read full letter

The balance sheet that weighs environmental impacts against mitigation sufficient to compensate for those impacts, or to achieve the "net conservation benefit" dictated by the Commission's policy on releasing easements, is rendered meaningless when mitigation lands become the target of mitigation.

Florida Native Plant Society read full letter

The current proposal for a road through Split Oak violates the clear language of Florida’s Constitution and ignores the mandate of Florida citizens who voted to amend our Constitution in 1998 to protect our Florida Forever conservation lands and the 86% of citizens who voted in 2020 to protect Split Oak Forest by amending the Orange County Charter.

League of Women Voters of Orange County, Florida read full letter

Though the proposed replacement lands in Orange County may serve some conservation purpose to protect an historic slough (wetland system) that flows northerly toward the St. John's River, and it may provide a buffer for the Lake Mary Jane Communities (LMJC) from the proposed Sunbridge Parkway (proposed to the east), it in no way can be logically argued that the proposed replacement lands in Orange County will add "like-habitat contiguous" acreage to Split Oak Forest as is required to meet FWC's criteria. That assertion, if being made by the applicant, is simply false and appears to be intended to deceive the reader and insult those persons tasked with considering the seemingly incomplete application materials.

Kim Buchheit, Orange Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor read full letter

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I respectfully request that you not release the Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area Conservation Easement and preserve this natural ecosystem.

Representative Anna Eskamani, Florida House District 42 read the full letter

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Florida is losing large tracts of conservation land to intensive development – exactly the kind proposed to the east of Split Oak Forest. If it is allowed to be broken apart, no land acquired for conservation would be safe from toll roads or commercial or residential sprawl. That CFX’s highway would serve future residents created by sprawl is no reason to sacrifice Split Oak.

Sharon McBreen, Orange County resident read full letter

Releasing publicly owned, protected, valued, recreational park land for the sole benefit of a corporation violates the legal agreements that were made, it violates public trust, and it violates people’s rights to enjoy that public land.

Jessica Sullivan, Osceola County resident read full letter

It is my understanding that FWC is considering releasing easements on Split Oak Forest in addition to releasing the 100 acres of the park south of the road to Osceola County without restrictions regarding conservation. Please do not do so!
This property is home to native, endangered and rare plants and animals that need protection as the area becomes more and more developed.

Laura Bennett-Kimble, Lake County resident read full letter

Central Florida already has a significant lack of facilities for outdoor recreation, certainly compared with other metro areas. We should fiercely protect the few resources that exist.

Split Oak is a gem that serves as the only real resource for hiking, as well as serving as a buffer to keep local neighborhoods, and tremendous wildlife diversity…..healthy and safe.

Stephen Fernandez, Osceola County resident read full letter

Overturning the easement would violate this public trust and place numerous species at risk. Most importantly though - releasing the easement would set a dangerous precedent in our state. Such action could open the door to the loss of protection for areas of critical habitat throughout the state to make way for more development – at the expense of our environment, our wildlife, and our enjoyment of nature.

Ruth Nichols read full letter

FWC has the power to stop not only the eventual destruction of Split Oak Forest but set the example of how future development should approach these issues. The people in Orange county were given the opportunity to vote and 86% agreed to not allow this toll road. If given the opportunity the people of Osceola County would vote the same! NO the compromise presented by so called experts wanting this toll road is pathetic at best. What would be more pathetic is if FWC agreed with these coercive speeches.

Michael Lella, Osceola County resident read full letter

I have watched Florida transition from fee-simple acquisitions with nearly-acceptable levels of management funding to conservation-easement-only policies that, particularly in light of FWC's consideration of releasing Split Oak's easements, leave more and more recently-acquired conservation land at future risk for development.

This decision isn't only about Split Oak. In fact, it's barely about this modestly-sized WEA. This is about the position of FWC regarding conservation land it protects and manages when faced with pressure from development interests.

Who are you?

Valerie Anderson, Osceola County resident read full letter

FWC's stated mission is "Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people." FWC's vision statement says "The FWC envisions a Florida where fish and wildlife are abundant and thriving in healthy and connected natural landscapes with vital working lands and waterways; where natural resources are valued and safely enjoyed by all; and wherein natural systems support vibrant human communities and a strong economy."

If FWC agrees to release its easement on Split Oak, FWC is directly going against everything its mission stands for, not to mention the overwhelming majority of voters and residents in Orange and Osceola counties. 

Katrina Stephenson, Lake County resident read full letter

Rarely do we Central Floridians have an opportunity to express our opinions about our state’s development, but we did have that chance during the November 2020 election and voters overwhelmingly voted 86% in favor of protecting the Split Oak Forest in its entirety from future development, and specifically from a potential toll road that threatens to diminish its very existence. I am requesting that each of you in your position with Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Commission also honor our voters’ decision to wholly protect and preserve the Split Oak Forest from any future encroachment, by a toll road or otherwise.

Cathy Miller Kennedy, Osceola County resident read full letter

Approval of releasing this perpetual conservation easement and the subsequent development of this toll highway would fragment Split Oak Forest and severely limit the use of prescribed fire as a habitat restoration and management tool across the entire tract.
A decision to release this perpetual conservation easement is premature at this time and would be inconsistent with FWC’s Guidelines for Accepting or Releasing Perpetual Conservation Easement adopted June 4, 2019.

Dave Finnegan, Osceola County resident read full letter

The proposed release flies in the face of the spirit, if not intent of Florida Statute 704.06 Conservation Easements, which stipulates that  conservation easements are perpetual, undivided interests in property.  Such easements are a compact with the public, which has an expectation that governments will honor the compact far into the future.  However, we have noticed a trend where agencies rationalize the abrogation of conservation easements to accommodate growth at all cost, specifically by governments (Osceola County in this case)  and money making private enterprises (Tavistock Development Co. and Suburban Land Reserve in this instance).

Douglas Sphar, Brevard County resident read full letter

Parking

Parking at the Hyatt Regency is $35; One of our members, Kip, has started a parking fund so that no one hesitates to attend. Let us know you would like to be reimbursed here. The Hyatt has indicated that they will validate your parking to bring the price down to $15. Still, we're happy to reimburse you.

FAQ

1. What is the FWC? The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is a state agency primarily charged with managing Florida's fish and game animals but it also manages a lot of land, owns land, and holds conservation easements.
2. What is this meeting? This is a meeting of the governing board of the FWC. These are regular and seem to rotate around the state. The governing board has seven members and are appointed by the governor of Florida. Read their provided bios here.
3. What are these meetings like? There are usually a lot of folks who hunt and fish. You can watch the most recent one on the Florida Channel here.
4. Does Orange County's newly-stated position of support for Split Oak change anything at this meeting? It won't change anything about how the FWC board runs the meeting, but the public comment won't look like the Florida Communities Trust in April 2022 where Orange County staff spoke in support of the road.
5. Can I send in my comments ahead of time? No. Written public comments were accepted until 11/30 5pm EST.

1. Split Oak was originally on the agenda for after lunch but FWC updated the agenda website indicating that Split Oak *may* be considered earlier in the day ↩︎
2. *and anything else you'd like to speak on the agenda, and sign up to speak on off the agenda if you have something else to say, Katrina Shadix is suggesting the following:
   -Please prohibit the use of conibear traps, snare traps and steel jaw traps.
   -Please stop the spraying of deadly herbicides into our waters and on wildlife and their food.
   -No Florida black bear hunt
   -Please re-list the Florida black bear as a state threatened species ↩︎