R-74-230• •
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RESOLUTION NUMBER 23~
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA, OPPOSING THE
PRESENT PLAN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL
RESOURCES FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO ACQUIRE
AND CONTROL THE USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE
GREEN SWAMP AREA.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Clermont is
greatly concerned with the preservation of our natural resources, the
quality of our water, and conservation in general; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Clermont well
realizes that the Green Swamp area, properly delineated, is an invaluable
and irreplaceable natural resource, beneficial to all the citizens of
Florida as both a natural resource and as a principal water recharge
area; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Natural Resources has presented
a proposed plan for the State of Florida, by virtue of legislative enact-
ment, to declare the Green Swamp area one of critical: State concern, thereby
authorizing the State of Florida to control and limit the use and develop-
ment of the lands comprising the Green Swamp area; and
WHEREAS, the plan as proposed by the Department of Natural
Resources is obstensibly for the preservation of the Green Swamp area in
its natural state, but in actuality extends far beyond the scope of
preserving the natural resources, wetlands and water recharge areas;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA, THAT:
The City Council does hereby oppose implementation of the
plan of the Department of Natural Resources for the State of Florida to
control and limit the development of the Green Swamp area, as presently
defined by said plan, for the following enumerated reasons:
1). The boundaries of the Green Swamp as defined
in said plan are improperly delineated, having no sufficient
basis in scientific fact, for the same as now defined
includes lands having some of the highest elevations above
sea level in the State.
2). The boundaries of the Green Swamp as defin@d
in said plan preclude expansion of the City of Clermont in
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a southerly direction, the only direction in which
it is geographically feasible for the City of Clermont
to grow, thereby depriving the City of revenues needed to
support an ever increasing population.
3). The proponents and originators of said plan
were not local citizens and residents of the area, being
unfamiliar with all of the socio-economic aspects of this
area; local governmental authorities and locally elected
representatives are better qualified to determine the
course of action having the greatest benefit to all citizens.
4). The plan as presented would maintain the Green
Swamp area at the lowest zoning classification, agriculture,
thereby both preventing acceptable development in appro-
priate highland areas not properly a part of the Green
Swamp water recharge area, and furthermore depriving
public coffers of needed tax revenue.
5). The plan as presented is stated to be for the
benefit of all the citizens of the State, yet there is no
provision for the adequate compensation of land owners
within the ill-defined area, there is no provison for
all the citizens of the State to participate in the cost
of implementing said plan, and there is no provison for
the State to replenish local governments for loss of
tax revenues.
BE IF FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of the above and fore-
going Resolution be forwarded to the Honorable Governor of the State of
Florida,to each member of the Governor's Cabinet, and to the elected
Senators and Representatives from Lake, Pasco, Orange, Polk and Sumter Counties.
DONE AND RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA, this the o2 ~ ay of April, A. D. 1974.
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CITY OF CLERMONT
BY
CLAUDE S K, Mayor
ATTEST:
0 ORE W. CARROLL, C erk
APPROVED by me this ~~day of April, A. D. 1974.
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CLAUDE E. SM K, Mayor