Opposition is growing to a proposed RV resort planned for nearly 73 acres at the corner of Ortona Locks Road and Williams Road, with more than 100 residents signing a petition urging county officials to reject the project.
The proposal would rezone the property in Ortona to allow for the development of a large RV park.
Emily Worth, an Ortona resident who launched an online petition opposing the project, said she was surprised the proposal continued moving forward after a recent Glades County Planning and Zoning Board meeting.
“Based on all the objections that the citizens had, their legitimate concerns, factual statements about the resources that we have in this town, we kind of thought that it would get denied,” Worth told WINK News.
As of this week, the petition had gathered more than 104 signatures.
In the petition, Worth argues that the development could alter the character of the rural community while creating new challenges for residents.
“The increase in traffic due to the influx of RVs and tourists could lead to more accidents,” the petition states. “Our roads are not designed to handle such high volumes, and the potential for tragic incidents rises with every additional vehicle.”
Traffic and safety concerns have emerged as some of the most common objections raised by residents. Worth said the proposed entrance is located near a curve that limits visibility for drivers.
“They’re actually going to be turning left across traffic with their trucks and their RVs, and there’s a pretty bad blind spot coming around the curve there that could cause a massive, massive collision,” she told WINK News.
Residents have also questioned how emergency services would respond to accidents or fires in the area. Worth noted that portions of Ortona are served by volunteer fire departments and that road access is limited. “If the fire is somewhere where they have to block the roads, these are two dead-end roads, so there’s only one way in, one way out,” she said.
The petition also argues that a commercial RV resort could impact nearby home values and change the quiet, rural character that many residents say attracted them to the area.
“We believe that development should enhance our community, not detract from it, and projects must align with the residents’ vision and best interests,” the petition reads.
Worth and other residents have suggested alternative uses for the property, including community-oriented recreational amenities that they believe would better fit Ortona’s small-town atmosphere.
County officials have not yet made a final decision on the rezoning request. The proposal is expected to return for additional review and public comment at an upcoming meeting next month.