Bar Along Wekiva River Granted Land Use Change

Seminole County commissioners voted to grant a land use change Tuesday to the owner of a controversial bar right on the Wekiva River. Neighbors say the bar is already rowdy and this change will give the owner more freedom.

Tuesday's vote was just on land use, not zoning. Zoning is where it will be spelled out what the bar owner can and can not do. Tuesday's 'yes' vote just prevents the land from being developed; it establishes the 5.5-acre piece of property will be used only for recreational purposes.

The Wekiva Island bar and canoe rental has become more popular than owner Bill Weinaug imagined. On the weekends, it draws crowds of 300 to 400. Alcohol is sold to patrons like Jason Fusco.

"It can get pretty crazy. Sometimes there's music, DJs," he said.

The owner fought to get the land use changed from residential to recreational. In a unanimous vote Tuesday, the commission voted in the change that only establishes its purpose. A later zoning change will detail exactly what recreation will be allowed.

Weinaug says his vision is to transform the riverside hot spot into an environmental learning center, but after busy, hot weekends the river has been left polluted with beer cans and plastic cups.

"Some people would say that's not being environmentally-friendly," WFTV reporter Liz Artz told Weinaug.

"I don't know how to answer that," he responded.

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office has responded to 465 calls for service over the last two years. It estimates 163 of those calls were legitimate disturbances at the bar.

"Regardless of whether you're calling or neighbors are calling, you've still got a problem with someone," Artz told Weinaug.

"Yeah, we're cleaning it up," he said.

Weinaug says his vision will be visible in the next five years.

WFTV checked and found Weinaug, his wife and business made $3,500 in campaign contributions to three Seminole County commissioners this year.

The zoning change will come up for vote in January. That's when the rules and regulations will be laid out and voted on.

Previous Stories: August 23, 2010: Neighbors Want Bar In Middle Of Woods Gone