Special to East Lee County News
*UPDATE 9/18/24*
The community has been made aware that the Hendry County Board of County Commissioners meeting to discuss the R&R application at 7800 CR 78 has been continued to October 22, 2024 due to a scheduling conflict. The subject will be heard at the meeting in October. We urge the public to join us on October 22, 2024 at 6 p.m. at the Hendry County Courthouse located at 25 E. Hickpochee Ave., Labelle, FL 33935.
The ROAR East Lee County News has recently been made aware of a project in Hendry County on CR 78 that will negatively impact any driver or resident that traverses or lives on/near North River Road in Lee County.
The 267-acre property located at 7800 CR 78 is in the process of being rezoned from General Agriculture (A-2) to Planned Unit Development (PUD). The applicant states that the purpose of the rezone is to mine spoil material out over the length of 4 years.
Dump trucks coming to and from this facility from Lee County would be forced to traverse all of North River Road from SR 31 due to weight restrictions on the Alva Bridge as well as the Fort Denaud Historic Swing Bridge. This project will damage and destroy ALL of North River Road in Lee County. This project will put our students at the Alva School and any Lee County bus stops along North River Road and drivers in general in grave danger.
The applicant has/currently owned mining operations in the past at which they received numerous code enforcement violations which led to the mine being shut down (this is Crescent Acres in Glades County). Code enforcement violations included damage to the roadway, dump trucks traveling at high rates of speed, operating outside of County noise ordinances and ignoring the stipulations of the agreement with the county.
The subject property is located less than 700 feet to the east and less than a half mile to the west of two Hendry County bus stops, which pick up our youth at 6:12 a.m. and 6:16 a.m., respectively.
In addition, this property owner has illegally mined this exact property and the only reason they are applying for a rezone is in response to their code enforcement violations as stated in the LPA packet.
What Can You Do to Help?
LEARN MORE:
- Read the Hendy County LPA Packet for the project located here: https://hendryfla.civicweb.net/document/95441
- Give us a follow on our Facebook page and keep up with new developments: facebook.com/SayNoToMining/
ATTEND:
- Pre-Board of County Commissioners Community Meeting on Wednesday, September 18 at 7 p.m. this meeting will be held at 1085 Pratt Blvd., Labelle, FL 33935. Attend this meeting to hear more about the project and purchase golf signs to share your support!
- Hendry County Board of County Commissioners Meeting on Tuesday, October 22 at 6 p.m. at the Hendry County Courthouse located at 25 E. Hickpochee Ave., Labelle, FL 33935. Attend this meeting to PACK THE HOUSE! This meeting will be where the ultimate decision is made.
SHARE:
- Sign and share our petition: https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/no-mine-in-fort-denaud
- For any questions not answered in this article, please email stopthemineinfortdenaud@gmail.com.
