Ocklawaha Lake House Advertisement at Lake Weir Deemed Illegal by FDEP
ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Ocklawaha Fun Spot owner Andrew Merchant announces today that he will continue to offer discount rates at his lake house so the public can easily continue to enjoy fishing, swimming, boating and sunbathing on Lake Weir, Fla. Merchant's rental house is one of only two state licensed waterfront overnight activities on Lake Weir, but the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has deemed his "For Rent" sign on his private dock as illegal "non-water dependant activity."
Ironically, Florida Law Chapter 18-21 FAC exists with intent and purpose to encourage maximum participation and use of the state's waterways by all citizens of Florida. Merchant claims his working waterfront advertisement is also supported by Florida Statute 342.07, a statute that proclaims: "Access is vital to tourists and recreational users and the marine industry in the state, to maintaining or enhancing the $57 billion economic impact of tourism and the $14 billion economic impact of boating in the state annually, and to ensuring continued access to all residents and visitors to the navigable waters of the state."
Despite this state law and well-intended public advertisement, FDEP officially cited Mr. Merchant on October 18th, 2010, for his dock sign (illegal non-water related activity) and was given 20 days to remove it or be deemed a criminal of the state, face possible closure of his resort and removal of his facility. Merchant remains confident that the sign complaint and the Department's apparent conflict of interest -- in which FDEP appears to be discouraging public use by ordering removal of an advertisement sign for the benefit of a private interest rather than following the intent of the law which is for the benefit of public interest -- will be correctly resolved by newly appointed Secretary Mimi A. Drew for the benefit of public interest. Moreover, the sign references water dependant activity and signage is not a defined FDEP regulated activity.
Ocklawaha Fun Spot is a renowned rental establishment built in the 1950s and Lake Weir is a freshwater lake located in beautiful southern Marion County, Fla. Contact Andy Merchant at Lakehouse.com, 912-272-0095 or web link http://www.lakehousevacations.com/page-5488.html.
This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.
SOURCE Ocklawaha Fun Spot
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