LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A Lake County agritourism business owner is raising concerns over the plan to build a connector road between Lake and Orange counties.

John Arnold with Showcase of Citrus is concerned the construction of State Road 516 will impact wetlands on his property.

An official from the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) says State Road 516 will connect State Road 429 in Orange County to U.S. 27 in Lake County.

That connection to U.S. 27 is near Showcase of Citrus, but that’s not the problem. Instead, it’s an “access road” CFX proposes to build through his property that has Arnold upset.

“We cannot afford to have a road going across a wetland that is basically part of our showcase,” he said.

Arnold says the tolled expressway connecting to U.S. 27 cuts off a proposed housing development and that’s why CFX is proposing the “access road” through the Showcase of Citrus property.

A spokesperson for CFX declined to comment as lawyers from both sides hash it out.

With 300,000 visitors annually, Arnold supports the construction of State Road 516 to help bring more people to Showcase of Citrus.

“We realize we need the road, the road is critical for Central Florida infrastructure,” he said.

But Arnold says he’s willing to legally challenge to prevent building the “access road” through his wetlands.

“It’s part of our lifeblood,” said Arnold. “We’re not going to see CFX come in and fill this wetland in order to provide more access to stack houses on a piece of property that they’ve elected to land lock because of this road.”

Groundbreaking took place last week on State Road 516.

Local relator Adaniel Zoga says the new tolled expressway will help with traveling between Horizon West and South Clermont.

“I spend quite a bit of time on the road so if I can shave off a few minutes every day, I’ll gladly do it,” said Zoga.

State Road 516 is set to be completed in 2027.

Spectrum News 13 reached out to those behind the proposed housing development but have not heard back.