Photo: Mike Wright, Citrus County Chronicle
“County officials say a wall that separates the Stonegate development from Crystal Oaks [in Lacanto] is not permitted.
County Commissioner Jimmie T. Smith went to bat for a Lecanto developer during Tuesday’s board meeting but found no help from other commissioners after they learned the company has a pending code case.
Smith questioned whether the county’s sign ordinance violates free speech after a contractor for the Stonegate at Westchase housing development complained to him about the county removing his ‘feather’ for-sale flags.
Smith said the contractor told him he had no place to advertise the development, which is separate but adjacent to the Crystal Oaks community…
Commissioners weren’t convinced.
‘We’re talking about a developer who bought a section of land in Crystal Oaks,’ Commissioner Scott Carnahan said. ‘He can learn how to advertise without flying signs out front…’
I’m not willing to change our policy,’ Carnahan said. ‘When it comes to he doesn’t know how to advertise, I don’t buy that one.'”
— Mike Wright, Citrus County Chronicle