After spending $110 million to buy the former Bronson family cattle ranch south of Osceola’s Lake Tohopekaliga, Richland Communities has won initial county approval for a new marina community that could add over 30,000 homes and bring 2.8 million square feet of new industrial and logistics space to the region.
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It was the latest in a series of concept plans for the South Lake Toho mixed-use district submitted and approved by the county’s Development Review Committee after the Central Florida Expressway Authority finalized the alignment and phasing plan for a $2.54 billion toll road that will connect the Poinciana community to fast-growing St. Cloud. Each of the new plans incorporates the future Southport Connector Expressway into their internal road networks, launching a dynamic new phase of growth for Osceola County in coming decades.
Richland bought the 3,229-acre ranch in 2024 as a long-term investment, but the approval of the new toll road could expedite the timeline, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. The Richland property stretches from Canoe Creek Road to the Southport Canal and is just south and west of the former Green Island Ranch DRI — now Waterlin. It also includes much of the land needed for a future interchange with Florida’s Turnpike and a second interchange that could help facilitate a major employment hub in the heart of the master-planned community.
“Bronson Ranch was a unique investment opportunity, and we are grateful to the Bronson family for trusting us with performance on this long-winded endeavor,” Richland VP Matt Young said. “We are looking forward to the much-needed CFX network expansion in this area and recognize how impactful it will be for the region.”
The plan divides the Bronson property into 16 phases, with construction likely starting just south of the Founders Corner neighborhood of Waterlin, which is accessible from Canoe Creek Road. Richland’s anticipated start date for Phase 1 is 2030, and the projected buildout will take at least 20 years. The development timeline is largely dependent on construction of the Southport Connector.
Just like the Waterlin/Green Island Ranch project to the north, Richland plans to begin development east of Florida’s Turnpike. The project is divided into 16 development phases. (Concept Plan by Rj Whidden & Associates)
SVN SaundersThe Bronson property, outlined in yellow, lies within the South Lake Toho Element of the county’s comprehensive plan. It contains some or all of six East Neighborhoods in the Conceptual Master Plan and a special district planned for 2.8 million square feet of industrial uses.
The concept plan from Rj Whidden & Associates requires that the developer build a minimum of 7,349 homes: 5,831 detached and 1,518 multifamily units. The South Lake Toho mixed-use district is entitled for over 30,000 dwelling units on the property. The plan also set minimum requirements for non residential space; in the employment center special district that’s 280,000 square feet of commercial, 440,000 square feet of office and 135 hotel rooms. The special district, which was shifted further west and north to align with the toll road interchange, is planned to have at least 2.8 million square feet of industrial uses but could accommodate significantly more. Richland’s parent company has a division that specializes in industrial development.
The concept plan tweaks the previously approved conceptual master plan by adding a potential marina on Lake Toho and identifying two proposed sites for regional parks. It earmarks 35.35 acres for future neighborhood commercial centers, which are also entitled for 1.46 million square feet of retail, office and civic uses.
Richland, which is based in Tampa, controls thousands of acres in Central Florida, including a development pipeline across Lake County with projects in Minneola, Mount Dora, Leesburg, Groveland, and Wellness Way. The developer also has over 4,000 acres in Polk County.
Waterlin developer Reed Berlinsky told GrowthSpotter his team is working with LandDesign to master plan the west side of the 6,000-acre community, in coordination with Richland, and will file a concept plan before the end of the year. Two of the homebuilders in Founders’ Corner, Lennar and Dream Finders, are actively selling from their models, and Perry Homes will open its models in October.
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Berlinsky said the neighborhood park and welcome center in Founders Corner will open in early 2027. “There’s about 40 homes under construction around there now,” he said. “And we’ll be announcing more builders as we release additional lots.”
Development within the South Lake Toho mixed-use district will continue with the 505-acre master-planned community just south of the Bellalago boating community on Pleasant Hill Road.
BTI Partners, which is developing Crossprairie and Toho Trace in the East of Lake Toho mixed-use district, began the permitting process two years ago. on its South Lake Toho property. Now BTI has approved subdivision plans and is awaiting approval of its construction plans. The community would be developed over seven phases with 893 detached homesites and 491 townhomes or apartments, for a total of 1,384 dwelling units. The plan earmarks just over 5 acres for a neighborhood commercial center.
Earlier this summer, the county’s development review committee (DRC) approved two additional concept plans for projects in the South Lake Toho district.
The Osceola DRC approved a concept plan on the Frankie Brown property that allows a total of 799 residential units: 508 single-family homes and 291 multifamily units. (Concept Plan by Rj Whidden & Associates)
Osceola County’s DRC approved the concept plan to add a new lodge, RV campsites and more “glamping options” to Southport Park. (Concept Plan by Rj Whidden & Associates)
The Frankie Brown property spans 238 acres on the west side of the district. It’s just east of the BTI property, but it’s not contiguous. The approved CP calls for 799 residential units (508 detached and 291 multifamily/townhome) and a minimum of 13,750 SF and 18,750 SF of commercial and office uses, respectively. It would be bisected by the Southport Connector.
The DRC also approved a CP for Southport Park that allows the current tenant, KP Adventures LLC, to move forward with $19.5 million in planned upgrades at the state-owned property. The 35-acre park is set to get a “glamping” upgrade — with a new lodge with a pool and restaurant, 56 cabins, and 20 RV sites.
Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at [email protected] or (407) 420-6261. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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