Wildwood Springs, one of Wildwood’s large sleeper development projects, is being revived as an active adult, age-restricted community.
A master plan for the development of more than 3,000 homes on 1,046 acres south of County Road 468 near County Road 505 was approved in 2008, but has been dormant since then.
At a Planning and Zoning Board meeting Tuesday, Special Magistrate Archie Lowry recommended conversion of the project to an older adult community. Lowry’s recommendation is subject to approval of the Wildwood City Commission.
In the new plan, the number of homes has been reduced to 3,000 from 3,700, with about 2,600 designated as age-restricted. The amount of retail and commercial space also was cut to 160,000 square feet from 225,000 square feet in the original master plan.
“We’re recognizing the market is an active adult market,” said Dean Barberree, president of Reader & Partners of Orlando, who represented the developer. “We’re working to move it forward as quickly as we can.”
Since the project is designated a Development of Regional Impact like The Villages, state approvals also are required.
Melanie Peavy, Wildwood’s director of development services, said the change would benefit the city. It would reduce trip traffic by an estimated 60 percent and would reduce the school impact by 90 percent with fewer than 100 new students, down from an earlier estimate of more than 900 in an all-ages community.
Neighbors of Wildwood Springs were more skeptical.
“The property that’s going to be invaded by this has Florida wildlife,” said nearby resident Kathleen Tolson. “What is this going to do to the wildlife when you come through with the tractors?”
Todd Dario, who operates a 10-acre cattle farm adjacent to Wildwood Springs, said he feared the project would hamper access to his property.
“We’ll be pinned between the lime rock mine and the new development,” he said.
Peavy told Tolson that the developer has the responsibility to protect wildlife during construction. She told Dario that he will be assured of access to his farm.
Wildwood Springs is one of the major developments proposed in 2008 before the recession put those projects on hold. The largest is Landstone, which calls for 8,000 homes on 4,000 acres south of County Road 470.
Permits for both Wildwood Springs and Landstone have been extended to 2021.
