Despite impassioned pleas from environmentalists and residential activist groups, Tallahassee elected officials voted 5-2 to uphold a state judge's July order giving the project until 2006 to break ground. A previous nine-year development order expired this year.
Cox and Price have the dirt under contract to Tampa, FL broker John Reaves for an undisclosed sum. The landowners' lawyer, Cecelia Bonifay of Akerman Senterfitt Eidsen says no development decision will be made until at least Dec. 1. That's when a deadline expires for anti-development foes to appeal the governor's decision to the 11th District Court of Appeals in Atlanta.
Bonifay has previously indicated Sugarloaf Mountain's density would probably be reduced by the new owners if the deal gets done.
"We have kept the buyers and their counsel informed throughout this appeal and have no reason to believe that they will not move forward under the terms of the contract," Bonifay tells GlobeSt.com.
The lawyer says "any reduction in the density of the project would have to be a decision of the current owners and the buyers."
Bonifay says, "If, in fact, Lake County is serious about discussions on a reduction in density, then I would not anticipate the county pursuing an appeal."
The lawyer tells GlobeSt.com that Cox and Price "are glad to have the appeal out of the way so a more meaningful and constructive dialogue with the county can take place."
Besides the residential component, Cox and Price had also planned 175 condominium units and two 18-hole championship golf courses. Orlando golfer Arnold Palmer has contracted with Reaves to build the courses at an undisclosed development cost. Cox and Price originally estimated the 20-year buildout value of Sugarloaf at $1.2 billion.
Voting for the project in Tallahassee were Bush, Secretary of State Katherine Harris, Insurance Commissioner Tom Gallagher, Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson and Education Commissioner Charlie Crist.
Voting against the project were Attorney General Bob Butterworth and Comptroller Robert Milligan. Butterworth, the only Democrat in the Cabinet, called the July ruling by state Administrative Judge Don Alexander incorrect.
(Please see earlier story on the Orlando page.)
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