LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – On Tuesday, Lake County commissioners decided to acquire two acres of land for $675,000, marking a pivotal move towards the repair of Britt Road, which has been closed since Hurricane Milton caused extensive harm nearly a year ago.

The approved purchase price significantly exceeds the land’s initial appraisal of $371,000, according to county documents.

“Knowing that residents had to incur extra expenses and spend more time using alternate routes justified the original purchase price, as we needed to prioritize convenience and safety for our residents,” Commissioner Leslie Campione explained.

The road closure has forced residents to find alternative routes, creating significant inconvenience for the community.

We spoke to Barbara Deanie back in June. She is one of many residents who have been forced to go around the damaged road.

“It’s a lot longer to go down to 437, and back track it’s unbelievable,” Deanie said.

The deal faced opposition from Commissioner Kirby Smith, who cast the lone opposing vote.

Smith expressed concerns about clauses in the purchasing agreement which included the county recognizing 12 additional housing units on the property.

“Just so everybody knows, I am certainly not for this. It was appraised for $351,000, he wants $675,000 but that’s not all,” Smith said.

Campione understands Smith’s concerns, but said they should not kill the deal.

“This isn’t about turning it into a high-density project. Because of this purchase, he would only be allowed an additional 12 units in the future, should the adjacent property ever be developed,” Campione noted.

Campione noted that pursuing eminent domain would have resulted in higher costs for the county.

Campione also mentioned that currently, no active contracts with developers exist for the property. The upcoming phase will concentrate on engineering and permit acquisition.