The Villages may be planning to build town homes or apartments near Brownwood either with new construction or by converting existing structures.
Wildwood commissioners Monday night approved a resolution to add multi-family housing to land uses in an area designated as the Villages of Wildwood.
The area, which includes Brownwood’s Paddock Square, is between State Road 44 and County Road 44A from east of Buena Vista Boulevard to west of Powell Road. It also includes a smaller area near Pinellas Plaza at Powell Road and County Road 466A.
The change involves the conversion of some land from retail and other uses to multi-family residential.
While The Villages claims a high occupancy rate for retail overall, Paddock Square has lagged behind other areas with empty stores.
The Villages also will move its administrative services to a new building in Brownwood, which will be in a central location when the Villages of Southern Oaks is built south of SR 44.
In a related matter, commissioners gave initial approval to rezone 41 acres south of SR 44 about a quarter mile west of Buena Vista to age-restricted development from the zoning categories of general commercial and neighborhood center mixed use. The acreage is part of the Southern Oaks development.
That proposal will be sent to the state for approval before the commission takes a final vote because it is part of a development of regional impact.
Last month, commissioners also added multi-family housing to permitted uses in Southern Oaks. Urban agriculture, community farming and development of recreational vehicles also were added to permitted uses.
Commissioners voted to allow construction of up to 26,590 homes in the 8,059-acre development, which extends from the Village of Fenney to SR 44 on both sides of the Florida Turnpike.
A $36-million extension of Buena Vista Boulevard is planned to extend south to County Road 468.
