The first two phases of the massive Villages of Southern Oaks will be next to the Village of Fenney along County Road 468 extending to the Florida Turnpike, according to master plans presented Tuesday to the Wildwood Planning and Zoning Committee.
A master plan also was presented for Fenney, where home construction began last year. It eventually will encompass 1,047 acres along CR 468 with nearly 30 neighborhoods of designer homes, courtyard villas and patio villas. A small commercial area is designated near the intersection of U.S. 301 and CR 468.
The first Southern Oaks phase on 274 acres will be built next to Fenney west of County Road 501. The roadway of Fenney Way will connect the two communities. The second phase on 456 acres will be between CR 501 and the turnpike.
You can get a look at it at this link:Village of Southern Oaks
A third Southern Oaks phase is planned across CR 468 from the other phases and south of the turnpike.
Roundabouts are designated for the intersection of CR 468 and 501 as well as at CR 501 and Corbin Trail, which will connect the first two Southern Oaks phases.
Golf cart tunnels also are planned to cross CR 468 and 501, allowing access to all three Southern Oaks phases. The master plan maps designate amenity areas, but not new golf courses. Fenney will have two executive golf courses.
Special Magistrate Archie O. Lowry Jr. recommended the three master plans for approval by the Wildwood City Commission, but questioned whether local roads will be able to handle traffic generated by the developments.
“There isn’t access to major roads that could handle the traffic,” he said. “It doesn’t seem to be a prudent way to handle this large project.”
But Richard Busche of Kimley Horn & Associates, serving as city engineer, said he believes the road system will be sufficient.
He said CR468 soon will have four lanes between State Road 44 and U.S. 301 and that roadway improvements also are designated for CR 501 and 470. The Villages developments also will have a system of interior roads to handle some of the traffic.
“I see a lot of roadway capacity out there for this development,” he said.
Earlier this year, The Villages announced the purchase of 8,000 acres near the turnpike which could accommodate 14,000 homes About 11,000 homes are planned on 4,518 acres of Southern Oaks.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Lowry also recommended the final plats of two Fenney neighborhoods for approval. The neighborhoods are the 45-unit Cypress Villas and a 143-home subdivision designated as Unit 10.
