ORLANDO, Fla. — A new deal was forged between the City of Orlando and Orange County on Friday.

As a result of the deal, the city of Orlando says it would drop its attempt to annex more than 50,000 acres of property from Deseret Ranch in southeast Orange County.

In exchange, Orange County said it will no longer contest its annexation of Sunbridge, as long as the city complies with the development plan previously approved by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC).

What You Need To Know

  • The city of Orlando and Orange County have reached an agreement Friday on the Deseret Ranch annexation

  • The deal would halt the city’s attempt to annex Deseret Ranch, while Orange County agreed to drop its challenge to the city’s annexation of Sunbridge

  • The Deseret Ranches property, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, filed an annexation petition with the city of Orlando on Aug. 23

  • The city of Orlando was supposed to make a final decision on the Deseret Ranches annexation on Nov. 4, after it had delayed the vote by over a week, to continue work on the annexation agreement

Just ten days before an annexation of 52,454 acres of property was supposed to be voted on, a deal between the city of Orlando and Orange County was reached.

According to Chuck O’Neal, president of the Speak Up Wekiva environmental organization, news of these plans to annex the land being off the table is a step in the right direction.

But he’s hoping the city will stick to its word in this agreement.

“The most important thing is that there’s some assurance that that land, that 52,000 acres, will never be developed. That’s what I want to see,” he said.

O’Neal says that the property is primarily made up of lowlands and fears that development of the area would create major problems such as flooding, especially during major storms.

But he believes that when it comes to this agreement, Orange County is well intentioned, in part because of its commissioners.

Both governments issued statements on Friday praising the agreement. 

The city of Orlando’s Mayor Buddy Dyer said the agreement “ensures that we are working together to create impactful outcomes for the community we are proud to serve.”

Dyer added, “Together, the city and county can continue to foster a collaborative environment where shared resources are used to meet the vital needs of our community.”

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings stated, “The agreement requires that both the city and county work together on a 10-year Joint Planning Agreement with automatic five-year renewals, with the intent of creating a process in which all parties understand the rules of engagement moving forward."

Orange County will provide $626 million in tourist development taxes for improvements to both the Kia Center and Camping World stadium.

In addition, it plans to lease the Work Release Center on Kaley Avenue, to the city for $1 per year, which the city aims to convert into a homeless shelter. 

The city and county will split maintenance and operations costs, but the city must agree to fund all the costs for the necessary upgrades and renovations done to the building. 

The county commission will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 29 and city council members will reconvene the day before Election Day on Nov. 4.