Homes now springing up in the Village of Fenney are only the first phase of a massive expansion of The Villages that will increase its size by at least 25 percent.
Fenney is part of 8,000 acres purchased recently by The Villages south of State Road 44 and north of County Road 468 on both sides of the Florida Turnpike.
The land, which can accommodate 14,000 homes, is not contiguous to The Villages and, although Fenney residents can use the golf courses, they can’t drive their carts the three to four miles to the current southern border at SR 44.
But Fenney is slated for four executive golf courses as well as a pitch-and-putt area. One recreation center also will have a bar and grill and an outdoor exercise area.
The development plans ensure that The Villages will keep its status as one of the nation’s fastest-growing communities.
The Villages’ sales forces is already gearing up to sell homes in the Village of Fenney, advertising trolley tours of the newest village.
With the influx of residents, commercial construction could develop near the intersection of U.S. 301 and CR 468 north of Coleman.
Once a sleepy railroad town, Wildwood is in the thick of The Villages development plans.
The city is in the process of annexing 400 additional acres of the recent land purchase. Most is south of the turnpike, but a small portion is north of it and east of the curve on CR 468. Fenney already is within the city limits.
Wildwood also is negotiating with The Villages over who will provide water and sewer services, which have been the lifeblood of the city’s growth.
At a meeting earlier this week, Wildwood commissioners allocated $74,000 to update the utilities master plan and $35,000 for a water capacity analysis.
“Even if The Villages doesn’t come in, there are things we need to do,” said assistant city manager Jason McHugh.
The city also spent nearly $50,000 for two new police vehicles to patrol the new neighborhoods.
For the past several months, commissioners have given piece-by-piece approval for Fenney’s neighborhoods.
All but one item on this month’s agenda for the Wildwood Planning and Zoning Board involves Fenney.
The board will review plats for a 94-home subdivision, a 143-home subdivision, a 139-home subdivision and a 76-home subdivision as well as plats for the 53-unit Mockingbird Villas and the 46-unit Cypress Villas.
The Sumter County Board also has been supportive of The Villages growth, which has helped the county keep property taxes low.
A Sept. 22, 2015, resolution approved by the board encouraged The Villages to continue growing beyond its current borders, noting that the community is “a significant economic engine” for the county.
