Lake County approves sand mining operation despite homeowner opposition

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Lake County approved a sand mining operation on Tuesday despite some homeowners speaking out against it.

After a 3-2 vote, the operation will be headed to the area west of U.S. 27 near County Road 474, which is currently an orange grove.

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The plans call for a 10-acre sand mine on 162 acres with 100- to 200-truck loads of sand a day.

People who oppose the mine complain the land is in the Green Swamp Conservation Area and they worry about the impact on water. They also said other nearby mines already flood the area with large trucks.

VIDEO: What’s next for the old Eustis sand mine?

They said those trucks bring noise and they tie up traffic.

“It just seems they keep heaping it on top of us over and over and over,” neighbor Jeffrey Dubey said.

In a meeting with county commissioners, an attorney for the company seeking the permit said there’s a need for materials and that replacing the existing orange grove will save millions of gallons of water a year.

Read: Lake County Government to purchase land at center of dispute with state over mining operations

“I don’t see the downside other than I don’t want any more mines in the Green Swamp, which are allowed by the comprehensive plan,” attorney Jimmy Crawford said.

Under the approved conditional use permit, the mine will be allowed to operate from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and is expected to be there up to 10 years.

Read: Another lawsuit filed against owners of Lake County pit accused of illegally mining for Wekiva Parkway project

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