Residents Angry About Proposed County Landfill

Residents who live along Wildlife Lane on the county's eastside are mobilizing to prevent a company from putting a construction and debris landfill near their homes.

The company, Croom Investment LLC, has applied to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for a permit to open the landfill on 26 acres at the end of that street, about two miles west of Interstate 75.

About 50 people who live near there are concerned about the loss of rural tranquility, potential noise pollution and increased traffic from dump trucks hauling debris to the proposed landfill.

Many of the neighbors have formed an e-mail chain to keep each other abreast of the situation. Some are planning a protest at the site.

Steve Morgan, a DEP engineering specialist, said Croom Investment filed the permit with his office last Friday.

The DEP will take nine months to one year to review it and render a decision, which can be appealed by either party.

Even though the county rezoned the site, Morgan said the developer must obtain a state environmental permit to construct and operate a landfill.

Morgan stressed the DEP will base its decision solely on environmental rules and regulations and does not take into consideration the proximity of homes.

That part of the equation must be addressed through the local land use and zoning process, said DEP Spokeswoman Pamala Vazquez.

The history of that property goes back to 1998, when county commissioners approved the rezoning of the land at the end of Wildlife Lane for a C&D landfill.

Croom is buying the property and has indicated plans to open such a landfill there. The developer recently called a community meeting to get feedback.

Darryl Johnston, an attorney representing Croom LLC, said his client is trying to work with the neighbors but some have "no desire to work with us."

Croom has yet to make a formal request to the county to rezone the property, and it is not scheduled on any meeting agenda.

It would only go before planning and zoning commissioners if Croom wanted to add additional property.