After another route shift, fruit farm stands in way of 417 airport connector

[FlyingFoxFruits]

Thanks in advance to all the supportive comments, this is all preliminary and nothing has been decided, but as I was told, chances were likely that the new alignment would interfere with my farm (actually both would, and there's only two left to choose from before the plans are approved)

To all who may ask questions, I won't be able to answer them, but rest assured FL is a decent state for eminent domain proceedings.  Lawyer's fees are all paid, every bit by the state.

Link to video without commercials on my youtube

https://youtu.be/IzbiUufGWec?si=t9PsrpEVE4SBNM9d


Link to news article and video via WTFV 9

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/after-another-route-shift-fruit-farm-stands-way-417-airport-connector/ZOQAEIASGZAMHIWLK2CS67OHA4/

[JR561]

Good luck Adam.

Eminent domain has always been one of those things that makes me scratch my head when people say we live in a free country.

[murahilin]

Adam, that sucks. Hopefully they can adjust their plans to not affect your property.

When will the final decision be made?

[RS]

Do you have a link to the CFX project page where public comments can be formally submitted opposing the proposed routes? 

Is it this one https://www.cfxway.com/agency-information/plans-studies/project-studies/concept-studies-sr-417-to-orlando-sanford-international-airport-connector/

Earlier this year FDOT proposed some new routes that threaten Bok Tower Gardens and you could submit public comments/feedback online to oppose them and support the alternate routes.

[roblack]

Very sad and angry to know of this. Reminds me of why I have trouble trusting authority. Good luck with everything!!

[nullzero]

That sucks Adam, I hope all goes well in your favor.

[Rain]

That's awful. Keep us updated please.

[ScottR]

Adam, that's a big bummer!!

[LeafDays]

Mannn.... Good luck Adam! I hope all goes well!

[BloomAndSprout]

Good luck Adam.

Eminent domain has always been one of those things that makes me scratch my head when people say we live in a free country.

People say all sorts of funny things online, you can't believe all of it.

[Iceman716238]

My man said "I need to be made whole, and that will be difficult ", I love it!!! I would have said and done the same thing. They want to take over your property, you better get paid bro!!! Nothing less is acceptable!!!💪🏽

[pineflatwoods]

The tumor of human civilization continues to spread.

I'm sorry this is happening to you

[roblack]

If they force him out, they should make a FFF toll on the road. If you want to take the ill-gotten road, gotta pay the Fruit Man.

[Orkine]

Hope you are lawyered up, someone who knows how ED works and can ensure you are appropriately compensated if your farm or its value is taken.

Do what you can to change the alignment but don't take your eyes off being made whole.

So sorry.

ps. know any appraisers who know the value of a fruiting Jaboticaba?
any chance your trees can be safely moved?
Hope for the best but plan for all contingencies.

[Rob From Sydney]

Wow, Adam! That's a real pain in the neck.
But you have some high ground - from what I've heard Jabos take a time to fruit again if your trim and move them - you could argue that you would have to be paid $$$$ for damages.
God Bless and I wish you luck!

Also, there is a great Aussie comedy called 'The Castle' about eminent domain. Anyone reading this should watch it. It's hilarious!

[Julie]

Terrible you are dealing with this.  I hope they can find a way to avoid your property.  No amount of money can compensate the time to wait for in ground fruit trees to grow, or the hassle to move and uproot your family, and the hassle to go through all these legal proceedings

[BurkTheMangoLover]

This is something id strap myself to a fence and sit in front of the dump truck for. I'm sorry for your loss. Very interested to see how this plays out.

[roblack]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyxcp0iozCM

[FlyingFoxFruits]

thank you all so much for the kind words, the next meeting is april 2nd and we are planning to go, the link posted by member below is correct for sending feedback to cfxway.

In short, if i could keep all of my jabuticabas, and most of my plants, and move down the road to a parcel of larger size (I have already secured a deal in case the farm is taken), I would be ok with that, I suppose.

So far nothing is set in stone and this is still the planning phase.

I think it would be really difficult to dig some of the most valuable trees here, and furthermore if we are moving during hurricane season, drought or winter, it could be devastating.

I will post more when we find out at the meeting, thanks again.

[Orkine]

Please do. 

In my experience, these take some time and you should have some time to plan how to mitigate the losses and if they are going to raze the site to the round they shouldn't mind you digging out your trees, if it comes to that.

Glad to hear it is still in planning.  I would suggest you attend the meetings and let the planers know of the hardship, as well as the value of the mature trees. They may rejigger the plan to avoid your place if it is special enough.

Good luck.

[RS]

You could probably get a decent number of public comments submitted to CFX opposing the proposed routes from your subscribers/Pete Kanaris/others if your lawyer thinks that might help.

An intersection near here used to backup over a quarter mile and they recently installed an adaptive signal control that extends the green light based on demand to let traffic flow through, instead of backup, which helps a lot.

Hopefully they'll look at alternate routes or designs to reduce congestion, e.g. adaptive signal controls, continuous flow intersections, roundabouts, better public transit options to the airport, etc.

Building more roads will induce more traffic demand. This is happening all over Central Florida.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

wesh channel 2 called this morning and asked to come out!

another, more in depth news story comes out tonight!

I will post a link, I think they said it airs at 5pm tonight...it's available on demand via their website, but i'm not sure if you have to pay to watch, or how it works....I will find a way to download the video and post to my youtube...

thanks for all the support, the meeting is tomorrow night, I think news will probably be there again.

[nullzero]

wesh channel 2 called this morning and asked to come out!

another, more in depth news story comes out tonight!

I will post a link, I think they said it airs at 5pm tonight...it's available on demand via their website, but i'm not sure if you have to pay to watch, or how it works....I will find a way to download the video and post to my youtube...

thanks for all the support, the meeting is tomorrow night, I think news will probably be there again.

I'm hoping it works out for you, it will suck if they decide to go through with the plan. Maybe will be a good ending with good compensation or they decide not going through with it and your business gets good exposure.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

https://www.wesh.com/article/florida-farmer-worries-toll-road-threat-flying-fox-fruits/64355281

here is a link to the article, I'm not sure if it includes a link to the news video, but I will have it uploaded and linked soon if not.

the player may have not been supported on my browser, I could only find the article not the video.

Luckily my dad caught it live when it aired and said it was a good story, job well done....I was worried they'd take only the worst clips of me stuttering...lol....FL MAN....

[FlyingFoxFruits]

link to video

https://youtu.be/ijuNgecuvK0?si=g4oKAS_r-h5rgXhe