Wildwood commissioners voted Monday night to turn a proposed 8,000-home development into pasture land.
The Buffalo Hide & Cattle Co., a company linked to The Villages, sought agricultural zoning for 4,130 acres south of County Road 470 about two miles east of U.S. 301, near the Coleman federal prison. The Landstone development was approved for the site in 2008, but the recession and collapse of the real estate market delayed construction and the property was sold. At that time, Landstone was the largest residential project ever proposed for Wildwood.
Commissioners rescinded the Landstone developer’s agreement several months ago.
Earlier this year, The Villages announced plans to build up to 11,000 homes in the villages of Fenney and Southern Oaks on 4,500 acres near the Florida Turnpike.
The Buffalo Hide & Cattle Co. was registered with the state in April by an employee of Villages general counsel Brian Hudson.
When the rezoning request came before the city Planning and Zoning Committee in July, Special Magistrate Archie O. Lowry Jr. said changing the zoning to agricultural will make it difficult to later justify developing the land unless conditions change.
In a related matter, commissioners also approved a water and wastewater agreement with South Sumter Utility Co. to serve Fenney until The Villages develops its own utilities for the area.
