The proposed WholeLife development across County Road 466A from Pinellas Plaza received planned development zoning approval Monday night from Wildwood commissioners, but not before a testy exchange between Mayor Ed Wolf and two Villages residents.
Development plans call for 172,240 square feet of institutional space, 543,500 square feet of commercial and retail space and 750 homes and apartments on 153.5 acres. Residences will include 400 rental bungalows and an apartment building of up to six stories. Bungalow construction could begin this spring.
On the adjacent Trailwinds property to the east, 296 homes, 462 assisted living beds, 572,750 square feet of retail space and 151,500 square feet of office space are planned on 131.5 acres. Construction of roads, retention ponds and other Trailwinds infrastructure is expected to begin this spring.
During a public hearing Monday night on the WholeLife plan, Villages residents Charles Anderson and Cheryl Janis said they were concerned about maintenance of a 75-foot buffer area between The Villages and the WholeLife property. The buffer is owned by the Trailwinds developer.
“We want to be good neighbors,” said Anderson, whose property is next to the buffer. “We as Villages residents do not want a junkyard in our backyard.”
He asked whether Wildwood would require the developers to maintain the buffer.
Janis said she’s concerned about huge oak trees in the buffer.
“We want to make sure somebody is going to maintain these trees,” she said. “There could be bug infestation if the trees are not maintained.”
Wolf said the oaks are very old and have done well on their own.
“They’re pretty sturdy, substantial trees,” he said. “Nobody’s been babying them for hundreds of years.”
The mayor said Wildwood’s city codes require buffer maintenance.
“We expect them to be maintained,” he said. “We’ve tried to work with you, but we’re not going to lose this project.”
Wolf admitted he was frustrated by the questions, saying it “gets the hair up on our neck a little bit.”
Melanie Peavy, the city’s development services director, said a mitigation permit would be required if the developer wants to take down any trees.
In related matters, commissioners approved an easement agreement that enables a water main extension to the Trailwinds property.
Utilities director David Watson also said a $1.8-million sewer main extension to Trailwinds from Wildwood’s sewage treatment plant west of U.S. 301 is expected to be completed in February, more than a month ahead of schedule.
