| Florida Property Owners' demise
- Making Willing Sellers ...
June 1, 2003 (no author given; thought to be Henry Lamb) Patriots Lake was cited for environmental violations, just weeks after hosting a Troop Support Rally. The Troop Support Wall, decorated with flags, yellow ribbons, flowers, prayers for, and pictures of American soldiers in Iraq, still stands on the condemned site. And those wishing to pay tribute to American soldiers on Memorial Day weekend were not banned from stopping by. Patriots Lake is a 650-acre site, with a 57-acre lake, on SR 44 in Volusia County, Florida, 4.5 miles east of the Volusia County fairgrounds. Fifty acres of the property was recently permitted to allow temporary primitive camping during bike/race events held at Daytona International Speedway four times each year. In addition to the temporary camp, the original Patriots Lake business plan called for a 200-acre youth retreat offering programs to build character and health while preventing obesity and violence among kids. Four-hundred acres were to be preserved as natural wildlife habitat. But Owners, Jack and Jeannette Rowe, say the 3-year permitting battle, just for permission to use 50 acres for primitive temporary camping, has trashed their lives, ruined them financially, and destroyed their youth camp hopes. The Rowes accuse Volusia County environmental agents of harassment, extortion, crimes, violations of civil rights laws and abuse of government powers, throughout the 3-year permitting process. The couple claims they have gone without food, and sold their furniture to survive, and pay government fees. During the last year, they have filed for protection under Federal Bankruptcy reorganization laws, just to hang on to their land. The Rowes believe attempts to prevent the use of their property could be illegal, and may stem from the fact that their site may be targeted for purchase by Volusia Forever: http://volusiaforever-echo.com/forever.htm Volusia Forever is a land-acquisition program spawned by the "Florida Forever" program, which provides $300 million per year to local governments and NGOs (non-government organizations), for land acquisition. The Volusia program was approved overwhelmingly in a 2000 referendum, and will produce about $80 million per year to purchase land in Volusia county. Staff for the Volusia Forever program is provided by the Growth and Resource Management Department of Volusia County government, which is the department responsible for issuing the permits requested by the Rowes. They believe published minutes of Volusia Forever board meetings make it clear that zoning/environmental protection laws and staff will be used to stifle private development and keep property values down, while funding for targeted Volusia properties is gathered. The environmental staff director, in charge of permitting Patriots Lake, is an active member of the Volusia Forever board. The Rowes also note that Patriots Lake is close to the county fairgrounds and many proposed Patriot Lake activities could be competitive with county business, normally conducted at the fairgrounds. After nearly two years of staff delays, and in spite of staff objections, The Volusia County Planning and Land Development Commission approved a special exception for temporary bike/race week camping on the property in April 2002. Issued permits, and letters of approval, show that all health, safety and zoning requirements were met by the end of that month. The Rowes contend that since then, the environmental staff has prevented them from opening, in spite of approvals from FDOT, St. Johns, PLDRC and county zoning. The owners say that because they cannot afford an attorney, and are incapable of protecting or defending themselves without one, they live in fear everyday. "I guess, after 3 years of this, I'm getting a little paranoid" says Mrs. Rowe, "and I feel guilty about risking the lives of our kids for freedom on foreign soil, while not standing up for our rights here at home. But I'm scared to death of being homeless or thrown in jail. "Everything we own is at stake, and at 55, with health problems, I'm not sure I can start over and make it. We've spent thousands of dollars to meet their contingencies, but they just keep adding new ones. "And they watch our every move. We have been subject to secret surveilances, been threatened with jail, and intimidated into signing admission to violations we didn't commit. We've been working at the camp a lot lately, and we haven't seen an inspector or compliance officer since our Bike Week inspections the first of March, when we passed everything. And no notice of violation has been placed on our site. "But out of the blue, we got a registered letter containing the citation and notice of hearing. We never have, and never will intentionally do anything wrong, or anything to hurt our land. But the fact that secret agents are lurking around on our property without our knowledge, is very frightening." The county hearing is scheduled for June 18th. The Rowes aren't sure how they will afford it, but will do everything in their power to defend themselves. " Just to be sure we get a fair shake, it would be nice to know the community and media were watching", says Mrs. Rowe. |