Frank Stanfield For the Daily Commercial | USA TODAY NETWORK | Published 12:48 p.m. ET July 20, 2023 Updated 4:21 p.m. ET July 21, 2023

GROVELAND —– This small town has been showered recently with environmental awards, including one celebrating its Dark Sky initiative, which is aimed at cutting back on lighting so citizens can better see the stars.

But “The City with Natural Charm” is also one of the fastest growing cities in Lake County, sohow can it continue its balancing act?

“Besides living up to our logo … we want to set an example for other cities,” Mayor EvelynWilson said in a press release announcing the League of Cities Environmental StewardshipAward. “We are looking to reduce light pollution and save the environment for our residentsas well as our wildlife.”

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Many new development projects planned in Groveland

Frank Stanfield For the Daily Commercial | USA TODAY NETWORK | Published 5:12 a.m. ET Aug. 17, 2023

FRUITLAND PARK —– Art Ayris and his wife, Kelly, routinely find black bears scampering across their yard on Bay Forest Lane, and that’s OK with them.

What’s not OK is that a nearby lush, pristine 500-acre plot on Lake Griffin may one day become home to some of the humans pouring into the state every day instead of bears.

“We just think that’s not equitable,” Ayris said. “We’re concerned about the animals.”

The real estate company handling the property, Maury L. Carter & Associates, describes Lake Griffin Farms on its website as “a 516-plus-acre oasis,” noting it is just an hour from Orlando, “the nation’s fastest growing metro area,” and The Villages, just five miles-plus away.

The owner, Lake Griffin Farm LLC, has not placed a price tag on the property, said Daryl Carter, president.

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Orlando’s tourist core sees full-time residents moving in Many new development projects planned in Groveland Residents worry about Lake Griffin land becoming family community