Background
The connection between Flemings Road and Sawgrass Bay was initially documented in the Interlocal Agreement Between Lake County and Orange County in 2017. The below timeline details the various agreements and amendments and links to the source documents.
Timeline
1995
Horizon West Conceptualized by Orange County
The Horizon West master-planned communities were conceptualized by Orange County. Included in these plans was the Village I community, of which Flemings Road is a part. There was no formalized discussion of connecting Lake and Orange Counties at this time. Flemings Road was considered an “alternate surface” road not suitable for local traffic; the road was used to access citrus groves.
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2017
Interlocal Agreement Between Lake County and Orange County Relating to Future Roadways
An Interlocal Agreement between Lake and Orange Counties that proposed future roadways was signed. There was no specific timeline for when the roadways would be connected. The roadways outlined in the agreement were Wellness Way-Independence Parkway, Schofield Road, and Sawgrass Bay-Flemings Road. At this time, Sawgrass did not extend past the Edgemont area, although land was being developed for what would eventually be Palms, Serenoa Village 1, and Serenoa Village 2.
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2020
Village I Horizon West Road Network Agreement
On January 28, 2020, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners passed the Horizon West Village I Road Network Agreement. This agreement encompassed roads within the Village I area, which includes Flemings Road, parts of Hartzog Road, and parts of Avalon Road. The agreement stated that the signatory owners (M/I Homes and Titan-Underhill) involved in Segments 5 and 6 (Flemings Road) must start construction on or before July 1, 2025, and must be substantially completed no later than January 1, 2026. Substantially completed means that it should be able to be opened to the public.
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2022
First Amendment to Village I - Horizon West Road Network Agreement
On November 15, 2022, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners approved the First Amendment to the Village I Road Network Agreement. The amendment had no impact on the timeline and was focused solely on funding the various road projects.
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2025
Proposed Second Amendment to Village I - Horizon West Road Network Agreement​​
On April 9, 2025, the Roadway Agreement Committee (RAC) met with the Signatory Owners to come to an agreement on the Second Amendment of the Village I Road Network Agreement. The Chairman of the RAC, Jon Weiss, indicated that this amendment had been in the works for over two years. All parties agreed to several changes, including construction timelines and funding.
For the Flemings Rd. segments, the construction commencement deadline was brought forward from July 1, 2025, to May 31, 2025. The substantial completion deadline was changed from January 1, 2026, to November 30, 2026. If the Signatory Owners fail to commence construction (have an executed contract and hold a preconstruction meeting with the county) by May 31st of this year, the County can pursue legal avenues against the developers. This amendment has not been approved by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners; the date that it will appear before the Board for approval is currently unknown.
2025
Pavement Evaluation Services - Flemings Road - Orange County, Florida
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REPORT:
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In spring 2025, Orange County officials requested a survey be performed on the existing two-lane portion of Flemings Road that is currently closed to the public. The survey was completed and sent to the county originally on May 2, 2025. A revised version was sent May 13, 2025.
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While the report determined that the preexisting road could withstand Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) of approximately 15,000 vehicles with minimal truck traffic (1%) on both the east and west sides for more than 10 years, county officials made the decision to continue to keep the road closed citing difficulties opening the road would create during construction of the four-lane road.