The Horse Farms Forever watchdogs have been alerted to an application from Sumter Electric Cooperative (SECO) for a Special Use Permit to build a utility company service yard on 3 parcels, totaling about 80 acres, inside the CR 475A Visual Enhancement Gateway Development Overlay Zone for the Florida Horse Park.

The County designated this overlay zone as worthy of special development regulations to maintain and protect its visual features by limiting the range of uses and requiring enhanced landscaping and buffering. The subject area is the gateway to the Florida Horse Park which is located inside the Cross Florida Greenway. This region has a significant amount of horse farms and agricultural activity. It also is home to many members of Horse Farms Forever who share our mission to preserve and protect horse farms and farmland for future generations.

SECO seeks a Special Use Permit to allow a utility company service yard on parcels with a zoning classification of Community Business B-2. The only zoning classification in the Land Development Code that allows a utility company service yard as a permitted use, by right, is Heavy Business (B-5). The Heavy Business classification is intended for just that, intense heavy-duty business. The proposed heavy business activity on these parcels would introduce intense commercial uses incompatible with the rural character and agricultural viability of the surrounding farms and other parcels. The application violates the intent and integrity of the Overlay Zone for the Florida Horse Park.

April Update

Horse Farms Forever® has updated its position from opposition to neutral regarding Sumter Electric Cooperative’s (SECO) application for a Special Use Permit to build a utility service yard on three parcels within the CR 475A Visual Enhancement Gateway Development Overlay Zone, which serves as a critical buffer for the Florida Horse Park.

Initially, in February, Horse Farms Forever opposed the proposal, citing concerns that it compromised the intent and integrity of the Overlay Zone. Since then, the organization has engaged in ongoing dialogue with SECO’s leadership, who demonstrated a strong commitment to being a responsible community partner. SECO agreed to make significant revisions to its original site and building plans in response to concerns raised by Horse Farms Forever and neighboring residents. These changes reflect SECO’s respect for the Overlay Zone’s purpose—to preserve the rural character of the area and protect it from encroaching development. Horse Farms Forever commends SECO, particularly CEO Curtis Wynn and VP/General Counsel Tracy de Lemos, for their responsiveness and efforts to be good neighbors.