ORLANDO, Fla. — Two environmental groups comprised of thousands of residents have sued the city of Orlando and the developer of a planned industrial park near John Young Parkway.
Chuck O’Neil, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, claimed contamination from vehicles could make their way into the area’s aquifer and ultimately pollute the Wekiva River.
The Princeton Oaks Industrial Park, which will contain 1 million square feet of warehouse space, was approved by the Orlando City Commission, despite opposition from neighbors.
Opponents of the plan claim the city violated state laws and a county ordinance designed to protect the Wekiva River and are hoping the court will stop the planned development.
“You cannot pollute the source of a river and still maintain the water quality,” O’Neil said.
The city of Orlando released the following statement on the lawsuit:
“This lawsuit is based on a substantial misunderstanding of the law and the facts.
The City Council carefully considered public input, the area’s predominately industrial uses, the project’s inclusion of environmental protections and the requirement of the project comply with all state and local environmental regulations to make a fair and balanced decision that follows the letter of the law.”
Cox Media Group
