Orange County commissioners in Florida have approved the large Tuscana land-use plan in a close 4-3 vote. The decision reverses a unanimous rejection of the same project 16 months earlier. The approval allows more than 4,800 apartments and about 1,000 hotel rooms to be built across nearly 230 acres in the Shingle Creek Basin.
Because of environmental concerns, in May 2025, county commissioners unanimously rejected the proposal. Nearby homeowners say they fear the high-density project will cause serious flooding, destroy wildlife habitats, and put too much pressure on local roads. But the decision was later reviewed after an independent Special Magistrate examined the case under state land-use rules and formally recommended that the commission reconsider its original decision.
Corporate filings given to the board say the project will create thousands of local jobs when fully built and will add more than $600 million (£450 million) each year to the local economy.
Local homeowners told WKMG ClickOrlando that turning open land into a developed commercial and residential area would change the natural character of their neighborhood. One resident said the area’s large deer population and other wildlife were the main reasons they had bought their home there. Another homeowner said they were worried about the size of the development. They described the commission’s vote as alarming and said losing the natural basin would also mean losing an important part of the community’s identity.
Despite those plans, people living next to the basin quickly expressed disappointment with the board’s decision. Supporters of the project, including Shingle Creek Co-Owners LLC and Geyer Development LLC, say the development will bring major financial benefits to the region.