Another church is planned for Wildwood’s “Church Row” along County Road 462 north of County Road 466A
Special Magistrate Grant Watson on Tuesday granted a special exception for Rock of Ages Lutheran Church to build a 7,954-square-foot church just south of the curve. A special exception was required to build a church in an area zoned residential.
Watson also recommended a site plan for city commission approval that includes a single-story building with paved parking and a driveway on 8.13 acres.
The special magistrate questioned whether other uses were planned such as a day care center that could boost traffic.
Church president Joe Feagins of The Villages said the church would not be operating a day care center.
Rock of Ages is the fifth church to locate along CR 462.
New Life Christian Church completed a 16,000-square-foot auditorium that seats 500 in September The $2.8-million project includes parking for 370 cars. The old building, built in 2008, will be remodeled for classrooms and a fellowship center.
In August 2014, 1,600 parishioners of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church jammed the new building for Sunday Mass. Capacity is 1,000 people in pews and the church may have to be expanded again due to growth of the congregation.
Village of Faith Baptist Church moved into its building along CR 462 west of the curve in 2010.
The Rev. R. Wayne Ogg of Grace Anglican Church said his church renovated a home two years ago to seat 40 people.
He said the visibility of locating on CR 462, especially since the road has been improved, is a major asset for the churches.
“As you’re looking to grow your church, having this traffic is very appealing,” Ogg said. “Traffic has increased since the road improvement.”
He said housing and assisted living or memory care centers also could locate along the corridor.
