Wildwood commissioners OK’d a variety of ordinances, Master Plan revisions and final plat approvals Monday night for the fast-growing Villages of Southern Oaks.
All told, commissioners approved seven items submitted by The Villages Land Company that involved 6,299 acres and 216 homes and villas that are planned in the latest phase of development for the retirement community that already is home to more than 125,000 residents.
The most significant action regarding Southern Oaks involved approval of a large-scale comprehensive plan amendment establishing 5,664 acres as Age Restricted Development. The action changed the designations on the land from county agriculture, city agriculture and low density residential and also amended the project boundary for Southern Oaks – actions that had been recommended by Special Magistrate Grant Watson at the July 3 Planning and Zoning Board meeting.
Commissioners also approved a companion ordinance that changes the zoning to Age Restricted Development on the 5,664 acres that are broken into two different parcels in Southern Oaks. The first is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of U.S. 301 and the Florida Turnpike. And 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. Watson recommended approval of this zone change during the Aug. 7 Planning and Zoning Board meeting.
Under the amendment, The Villages can build up to 49,339 new homes – up from 26,500 – on the 13,637 acres that comprise Southern Oaks. Non-residential uses rise to 11.2 million square feet, up from 8.5 million square feet. And government/office use increases to 1.4 million square feet, up from 750,000 square feet.
Higher density, including condominiums and apartments, also is allowed in Southern Oaks under changes made recently by Wildwood commissioners. And in addition to residential uses, the amendment allows for office, commercial/retail, hotel, medical, light industrial, institutional, recreation, urban agriculture and community farming, recreational vehicle development and other similar uses, as well as supporting infrastructure such as roads, water, sewer, etc.
Commissioners also took five other actions regarding Southern Oaks. Those were:
• Approved a revision to the Phase 4A Master Plan on 98.48 acres. The five parcels involved are located at the northeast corner of County Road 468 and the Florida Turnpike overpass. Watson recommended approval of the revision during a Planning and Zoning Board meeting on Aug. 7
• Approved the Phase 5B Master Plan on 450.38 acres. The three parcels involved are located about a half mile southeast of CR 468 and about a quarter mile north of the turnpike. Watson also recommended approval of this action at the Aug. 7 Planning and Zoning Board meeting.
• Gave final plat approval for the Samuel Villas. The action allows for 60 single-family detached lots on 15.15 acres of property located on the north side of CR 468 and about one and a quarter mile east of U.S. 301.
• Agreed to final plat approval for 101 single-family detached lots on 43.23 acres in Southern Oaks. The property, designated as Unit 20, is located on the north side of CR 468 about a quarter mile east of U.S. 301.
• Gave final plat approval for the Unit 23 subdivision that allows for 55 single-family homes on 27.77 acres. The parcel is located on the north side of CR 468 and about one and a quarter mile east of U.S. Hwy. 301.
All three plat approvals are subject to the Villages of Southern Oaks Phase 3 Master Plan that was approved by the commission on Sept. 25, 2017.
