Innovation Way exit plan stalls

New problems for an East Orange County road project, after local leaders vote down a plan to build thousands of homes.

Our partners at the Orlando Business Journal said the Beachline interchange and perhaps the entire road's future may now be in jeopardy.

Developer Suburban Land Reserve had pledged to spend $12 million to help build a direct interchange here where the road ends at the 528. But now that county leaders voted down their development, they said what's the point. 

This summer, county leaders were in the area for a celebration to cut the ribbon on the road that extends to Alafaya Trail, saying it was appropriately named Innovation Way because of all the great things it would bring to the Orlando area.

A couple days later they voted down the plan to build more than 6,000 homes and more than 2-million square feet of commercial space, which they said would have created thousands of new jobs.

Critics cited concern about urban sprawl and harming the environment harm near the river.

As for the direct interchange, it looks like for now the county and expressway authority are about $12 million short for the $30 million project. 

News 13's partners at the Business Journal said Suburban Land Reserve plans to revisit the development project in about two years, hoping the economy has turned around by that point.