Requests for changes and approvals regarding the Villages of Southern Oaks dominated Wildwood’s Planning and Zoning Board meeting Tuesday.
Special Magistrate Grant Watson recommended approval of three ordinances that affect more than 6,200 acres in the Southern Oaks project, which involves the latest phase of growth for The Villages south of County Road 44.
Watson recommended approval of ordinance that would change the zoning to Age Restricted Development on 5,664 acres of land spread across two parcels. The change would hinge on eventual approval of another ordinance that establishes a future land use appropriate to the proposed zoning, Watson noted.
The first parcel that would be affected by the zoning change is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of N U.S. 301 and the Florida Turnpike. 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.
In recommending approval to the special magistrate, the city’s planning staff pointed out that The Villages already is actively constructing infrastructure to help minimize potential impacts to public services.
“Taking programmed improvements into account over the next five years, the City will have adequate water and sewer capacity to accommodate the development,” a staff report said. “While rezoning the property in and of itself will not create additional water and sewer demand, traffic congestion, or school facility impacts, the project as a whole will be required to mitigate any deficiencies prior to site plan approval, should any be present at that time.”
Watson also recommended the city commission approve a revision to the Villages of Southern Oaks Phase 4A Master Plan on 98.48 acres. The five parcels involved are located at the northeast corner of County Road 468 and the turnpike overpass. And he followed that decision with another recommendation for the commission to approve the Villages of Southern Oaks Phase 5B Master Plan on 450.38 acres.
Watson did delay a request from The Villages Land Company for a comprehensive plan amendment as it pertains to future land use in Age Restricted Development. The proposal would:
• Establish a 1,000-acre minimum threshold for projects applying for a future land use designation of Age Restricted Development.
• Clarify the process for amending an existing Age Restricted Development project.
• Exclude the Age Restricted Development future land use designation from the exception of providing a mix of uses for parcels less than 10 acres.
• Add a list of Age Restricted Development projects approved by the city.
The city’s planning staff recommended approval of the changes, saying the amendment is consistent with the goals, objectives and policies of the comprehensive plan. Staff also recommended approval because the objective of the amendment is to ensure that projects developed under the Age Restricted Development future land use designation are “efficient and self-sufficient.”
But Watson questioned the 1,000-acre minimum threshold and said he wanted to speak with the city’s attorney before making a final decision. He said he would revisit the item at the city’s next Planning and Zoning Board meeting on Sept. 4 at 2 p.m.
