Three proposed restaurants coming to Hamlin have withdrawn or stopped proceeding with their permit applications through Orange County. Permitting through Orange County shows things stopped prior to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic taking place, indicating it is not a reason for the withdraw. No specific reasons were listed in permits or accompanying documentation. 

The developer for the proposed Taco Bell and Pizza Hut informed Orange County that the transaction was terminated and the site will not be a Taco Bell and Pizza Hut as indicated on Permit RAG-19-06-024. The developer owed payment to Orange County, which went unpaid and allowed the Prop-Share to expire. 

The developer for the proposed Chick-Fil-A responded to Orange County related to the expiration of permit CEL‐18‐11‐097, indicating that the construction was no longer going to happen and that the permit may expire. The developer stated a new application will be submitted once construction is ready in the future.

While residents may be surprised to hear of these changes or frustrated with slow development in Horizon West, this is common for new growing communities. A commercial district such as Hamlin still requires substantial residential buildout in the surrounding areas, as immediately to the west of Hamlin is rural land in very close proximity. For example, businesses have swarmed Lakeside Village, which has pretty much completely residential buildout, and the new Fyre Center was built with a full tenant list. Once more residential is built in a 360-degree radius surrounding Hamlin, businesses will be much more attracted to the area.