A major residential and commercial development proposed for County Road 466 will go before Lady Lake commissioners on Monday night.
Hammock Oaks, to be located directly across from Spring Arbor Village, would provide for a 162.4-acre housing development on what is now pasture land. In addition, there will be acreage for a senior citizen housing development. There will be commercial development and a medical park is also envisioned.
When members of the Lady Lake Planning and Zoning Board heard the proposal at their Nov. 14 meeting, they also got an earful from nearby residents who are worried about traffic and congestion the development could bring. Even Planning and Zoning Board member Peter Chiasson, who lives on Palermo Place in the Village of Valle Verde, added his voice to the chorus of concerns. You can read more about that meeting HERE
The acreage is now pastureland.
Now the proposal moves on to consideration by the Lady Lake Commission which meets at 6 p.m. at Lady Lake Town Hall.
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Residents’ concerns about increased traffic could dampen enthusiasm for a major commercial and housing development on County Road 466 and Cherry Lake Road.
Hammock Oaks, to be located directly across from Spring Arbor Village, would provide for a 162.4-acre housing development on what is now pasture land. In addition, there will be acreage for a senior citizen housing development. There will be commercial development and a medical park is also envisioned.
A prominent voice of concern came on Monday night from Lady Lake Planning and Zoning Board member Peter Chiasson, who lives on Palermo Place in the Village of Valle Verde.
He noted that materials indicated that there would be 15 exits/entrances per minute at the development.
“The issue is very clearly one of vastly increased traffic on Chula Vista Avenue,” Chiasson warned. “It’s a nightmare now.”
He said he fears that Chula Vista Avenue, already a cut-through for many drivers, would be deluged with traffic if the development is approved.
Karen Donnelly, who lives on Cherry Blossom Lane in Spring Arbor Village, voiced her concerns to the Planning and Zoning Board.
“We first purchased this property when there was a sweet little two-lane road called 466. It has grown into a monster,” she said.
Donnelly also said she has concerns about light and noise pollution from the development.
“It’s not going to make living there great for us,” she said.
Cindy Uribe, who lives on Via San Polo off Rolling Acres Road, echoed fears about increased traffic.
“It all ready takes me 15 minutes to pick up kids a mile and a half away at Lady Lake elementary. It’s crazy,” she said
Other items of interest about the project:
• The development is expected to generate 280 new students who presumably would be attending Lake County schools.
• A stoplight is envisioned for Cherry Lake Road and County Road 466.
• The build-out of the project is expected to occur in 2025.
• The Developer said he would like to attract a Trader Joe’s, a pharmacy and restaurants to the commercial development.
The Planning and Zoning Board voted to forward the project to the Lady Lake Commission. The commission is expected to hear a first reading on the project on Dec. 5.
