A Lady Lake commissioner has declared he’ll vote against a proposed 7-Eleven gas station and convenience store at the intersection of Rolling Acres Road and County Road 466.
Commissioner Dan Vincent said that continued delays in funding for Rolling Acres Road improvements are driving his decision to vote against the proposed 7-Eleven. He feels particularly burned after a 2016 vote he cast to allow the construction of medical clinic on Rolling Acres Road not far from The Villages Elementary of Lady Lake. At the time, Lake County officials hinted that the economic benefits of the new clinic could accelerate funding for improvements on Rolling Acres Road, which has been declared a failing road.
“Had I known what I know now, I wouldn’t have voted for it,” Vincent said.
He said a recent conversation with Lake County Commissioner Josh Blake, who represents Lady Lake, did not offer much hope.
“Basically, he told me to ‘go soak it,’” Vincent said, who added the county seems able to find money for Clermont and Mount Dora.
He said he is tired of Lady Lake getting the short end of the stick.
“We’re not going to sit back and let them hand out crumbs to us. I want the whole loaf,” said Vincent, a resident of Water Oak.
The intersection of Rolling Acres Road and County Road 466 is notorious for the frequency of accidents, including one last week when a car jumped a median and crashed into two other vehicles waiting at a stoplight.
At least one other commissioner has indicated he will vote against the proposed 7-Eleven.
“I personally will vote no,” said Commissioner Paul Hannan. “I think we have enough gas stations.”
The 7-Eleven is expected to appear on the Lady Lake Commission’s Dec. 17 agenda.
