Destiny, Florida is a large-scale urban development project in Osceola County

Osceola County, Florida

Osceola County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 172,493. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 244,045, making it the 17th fastest-growing county in the United States. Its county seat is Kissimmee.- History :Osceola County was...

 near Yeehaw Junction, Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

. The project is a joint partnership between the Pugliese Development Co. of Delray Beach and FD Destiny LLC, owned by Fred DeLuca

Fred DeLuca

Frederick "Fred" DeLuca is an American businessman, best known as the co-founder of the Subway franchise of sandwich restaurants. DeLuca is an alumnus of University of Bridgeport and Central High School in Bridgeport, CT.-Career:...

. It was one of 16 initial projects of “climate positive" real estate developments supported by the Clinton Climate Initiative. In 2010, the project was delayed due to lawsuits and opposition from Florida state agencies.

Proposed development

The project plans for the eventual development of a 41300 acres (167.1 km²) property to include 88,000 to 100,000 residential units for a population of 200,000 to 250,000 residents. Initial plans, scheduled to begin in 2011, call for up to 10,000 residential units and 7000000 square feet (650,321.3 m²) of business use. The proposed infrastructure is based on an large-scale "climate positive" community entirely supported through sustainable energy. Sources of energy would include a 30MW solar array, a waste management system for extracting methane, and an energy farm for the production of biofuel

Biofuel

Biofuel is a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. Biofuels include fuels derived from biomass conversion, as well as solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases...

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Controversy

In 2009 Osceola County proposed an amendment in its comprehensive building plan for a "new city overlay on more than 500,000 acres in a rural area in the county", which would allow for the construction of the Destiny development as well as several other large-scale projects. The Florida Department of Community Affairs opposed the amendment, citing the Florida’s Growth Management Act and stating the amendment would contribute to urban sprawl

Urban sprawl

Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a...

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There was additional opposition to the development from the Avon Park Air Force Range

Avon Park Air Force Range

The Avon Park Air Force Range is a United States Air Force bombing range and air-ground training complex in the U.S. state of Florida located east of the city of Avon Park.-History:...

 which had been requested by the developers to change its flight ceiling from 500 feet (152.4 m) to 5000 feet (1,524 m). The Air Force said this would interfere with flight training.

In September 2009, Fred DeLuca filed suit against Anthony Pugliese of the Pugliese Development Company claiming mismanagement of the Destiny project and misuse of project funding for personal use. On September 29, 2009, Anthony Pugliese and Fred DeLuca entered into an Agreed Order whereby Pugliese agreed to "temporarily relinquish control" of the project. In December 2009, Pugliese filed a five billion dollar lawsuit against DeLuca for fraudulent financial practices associated with creating loans for the Destiny project.

In April 2010, Osceola County postponed further development of the comprehensive plan due to the state opposition and the court litigation.