Company Overview
Media Exposure
Developer gains promise to speed up approval process - March 2006 (News-Gazette)
By: Conswella C. Bennett
News-Gazette Staff Writer
Now that Legacy Resort, a $4 billion resort/vacation home community, is beginning to take shape, Osceola County commissioners have pledged their support in continuing to help move the project along. Rob Miller, the project's Tequesta-based developer, appeared before the county board Monday to announce that he had broken ground on the resort in December and to request the county's endorsement for a traffic light on U.S. Highway 192 between State Road 535 and Siesta Lago Drive.
The resort is located west of Kissimmee and east of Walt Disney World in an area called Osceola Trace.
Miller said that he had hired a traffic engineer and that by allowing the signal, guests could make left turns into and out of the resort.
"It will make it easy and safer for people to be able to access (the resort)," Miller said.
Miller also said that the Florida Department of Transportation had agreed to install the light but would do so only if the county endorsed it. According to Miller, county staff had recommended against the request because the signal light would be too close to one already in place at State Road 535.
Miller also wants to speed up the county inspection and permitting process.
Commissioner Ken Shipley said that since he was unsure where Miller is in the permitting process, he suggested that County Manager Ed Hunzeker look into the matter.
Shipley said there are a number of agencies, including the South Florida Water Management District, county planning and zoning and the East Central Regional Planning Council, that must sign off on a project before it can move forward.
Commissioners also can give a higher priority to certain projects deemed economic development that benefit the county and bring in better-paying jobs, Shipley said.
Shipley said the resort would add significantly to the county's tax base in terms of both property and other taxes.
"This is a win-win," he said.
Commissioner Bill Lane said, "We'll work to make sure to help all that we can."
Commission Chairman Paul Owen also pledged to help approve Miller's requests.
According to Miller, after build-out the resort will generate $66.2 million in county tax revenue annually. He also said the development, because it is geared toward tourists, would not significantly add to enrollment in local schools.
Miller's partner on the project is US Homes Corp., a division of Lennar Corp., ICI Homes. Agreements are also being finalized with WCI Homes, a company known for building luxury resorts, golf courses, marinas and high-rises. According to Miller, WCI Homes has not done any work in Central Florida.
According to its Web site, WCI has been involved in 50 master-planned communities and 60-plus luxury high-rise towers in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the Washington, D.C. area.
Miller's project includes an 18-hole championship golf course and an eco-tourism feature in the form of Safari Todd Wildlife Productions, now based in Christmas, which would relocate to the resort.