People have long been attracted to Central Florida for its climate, culture, environment, and economy. Many of these people have moved to Osceola County, making it one of the fastest-growing counties in Florida. Osceola County wisely recognized that this rapid growth would require careful planning to preserve what people love most about the area. Using the very best planning principles, Osceola County identified where and how growth should occur to benefit the citizens of the county and the region.
As Osceola County looked at growth patterns and economic development opportunities, it identified a 19,000-acre portion of Deseret property, now called the Northeast District, as an appropriate area for future growth. This area is just a few miles from the burgeoning Medical City in Lake Nona, a major life sciences and biomedical research cluster developed over the last 20 years. Given our decades-long cooperative relationship, Deseret and Osceola County agreed to work together to create a long-range plan for the property. At Deseret, we recognize that our future is linked to that of the County and the region.
- 40-year plan to accommodate a portion of Osceola County’s growth
- Plan founded on capturing economic development, including 40,000 high-quality jobs
- Two-thirds of the land left as open space
- Received 2010 American Planning Association Award of Merit
Deseret and Osceola County worked together to make the Northeast District consistent with the six Smart Growth principles that shaped the myregion.org “How Shall we Grow?” vision. For example, planning of the Northeast District began with the environment. The plan preserves critical habitat, leaving two-thirds of the property as open space and protecting the entire 3,000-acre Econ Swamp. The transportation system is designed to provide a variety of transportation choices, including walkability. The land uses are designed to create distinct and attractive neighborhoods and put houses close to jobs. Neighborhoods will be centered around educational, health care, and cultural amenities. Given its location just 10 miles from the Orlando International Airport and 5 miles from Medical City, the Northeast District will be a key area for economic growth within the County.
As longtime residents and landowners in Osceola County, we are proud to share in the County’s vision. Dozens of stakeholders were involved in the process, and the Northeast District plans were approved unanimously by the County. Osceola’s planning efforts for the Northeast District earned a 2010 Award of Merit for Best Practices from the Florida chapter of the American Planning Association.
Additional planning and approvals have been in process over the last 10 years. In 2014, Deseret entered into an agreement with Suburban Land Reserve, Inc. (SLR), a taxable investment affiliate of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the sale of the Northeast District in Osceola County and other lands in Orange County. SLR partnered with the Tavistock Development Company to include the Northeast District in Tavistock’s Sunbridge master-planned community. Tavistock is the well-known developer of Lake Nona and Medical City. Working with local governments, Tavistock is now developing the naturehood at Sunbridge, a generational project that emphasizes spending time in nature as an everyday essential. The smart-growth principles embodied in the Northeast District Plan guided Tavistock in their master planning for entitlements at Sunbridge in both Osceola and Orange counties.
The Sunbridge mixed-use development does not affect the balance of the ranching property owned by Deseret outside of Sunbridge, nor the lands in Osceola County that are part of the North Ranch Sector Plan approved in 2015.
For more information on the Northeast District planning process, see Osceola County’s Smart Growth website.
Links:
- http://www.osceola.org/agencies-departments/strategic-initiatives/
- http://www.osceola.org/agencies-departments/strategic-initiatives/conceptual-master-plans/cpa09-0009-northeast-district-element/
Click here for more information on Sunbridge.
Video: Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs comments on Deseret Ranch and Tavistock working with integrity during the approval process for Sunbridge entitlements, Orange County Board of County Commissioners Meeting, November 29, 2016.
