I am an Okeechobee resident, living in an agricultural zoned area located on U.S. Highway 441 SE.

The Okeechobee Board of County Commissioners will be having two important meetings on rezoning a large section of land from agriculture to a planned development. If the Okeechobee Community allows this change, the decision will open the “Flood Gates” for future “Urban Sprawl” changing the way/why most of us moved to Okeechobee County.

The application reclassifying 27.27 acres from agricultural land to a planned development. The proposed change is for development of the Okeechobee International Sports Village consisting of three sports fields, 2,500 seat stadium, 230 lodging units, 5 acres dedicated to studio, office and classroom space, and a restaurant. The applicant is Lake Club Fields, LLC. The property address is 13493 US Hwy 441 SE.

For those of you living in agricultural areas wishing to not be encroached by large outside corporations, PLEASE ADVISE the county commissioners to move this project closer to the Okeechobee Sports Complex or OK Softball Fields. By doing this, it would be in keeping this kind of extreme county planning more practical and in line with the local community needs. Note: A search online (DPBR 866-532-1440) for Lake Club Fields, LLC could not locate a license in the State of Florida.

PLEASE consider this COMMON-SENSE relocation of this project and deny the rezoning of this area. Contact your Okeechobee County Commissioners at 863-532-9006. Public Rezoning Meetings: Sept. 23, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the Health Department Auditorium and Oct. 9, 2025, at 9 a.m. Historic Court House in Room 270.

Margie Duttenhoeffer