The Villages is asking for a zoning change on 5,664 acres in the Village of Southern Oaks project, which involves the latest phase of growth south of County Road 44 for the retirement community.
Wildwood commissioners heard the first reading of an ordinance Monday that could make that change to Age Restricted Development a reality and allow new homes on two large parcels of land. The commission will vote on the ordinance at its Aug. 27 meeting.
The first parcel is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of N. U.S. 301 and the Florida Turnpike. The second is on the north and south sides of County Road 470, extending north to the turnpike, west to County Road 501 and east to the Sumter County boundary.
Special Magistrate Grant Watson had recommended approval of the zoning change Aug. 7 during the city’s Planning and Zoning Board meeting. His recommendation followed that of the city’s planning staff, which noted that The Villages already is actively constructing infrastructure to help minimize potential impacts to public services.
“Taking programmed improvements into account over the next five years, the City will have adequate water and sewer capacity to accommodate the development,” a staff report said. “While rezoning the property in and of itself will not create additional water and sewer demand, traffic congestion, or school facility impacts, the project as a whole will be required to mitigate any deficiencies prior to site plan approval, should any be present at that time.”
