The Villages continues to eye hundreds of acres of property on County Road 466A adjacent to the new Colony Care Center.
The property, directly across from the new Burke’s Barbeque restaurant in Fruitland Park, is currently owned by trustees of an estate.
Charlie Rector, community development director with Fruitland Park, said the city has decided to spend $3,400 on a study to look at the impact of development at the pastural dairy site.
This would be The Villages’ first move into Fruitland Park boundaries, Rector said.
He said he asked city commissioners to approve the study following a meeting with Villages officials who had expressed their desire to consider purchasing the property.
Fruitland Park will have the opportunity to lay out zoning requirements and other standards before the deal could move forward.
The property is located adjacent to the Sumter County line and next to The Villages’ newest health care facility.
The Colony Care Center opened in December as part of its Villages Health Centers and extensive agreement with USF Health. The Villages has put a heavy emphasis on the health programs with the University of South Florida and has repeatedly touted reviving the “Marcus Welby” approach to medicine.
