Roads, sewers, water mains and retention ponds may begin to take shape this spring on the Trailwinds property north of County Road 466A across from Pinellas Plaza.
Construction of the 165-acre development’s infrastructure is expected to take six to eight months.
Wildwood Special Magistrate Archie Lowry Jr. recommended Tuesday that the project should be approved by the city commission, which will consider it later this month.
“The applicant has responded to and satisfied all comments and concerns raised at the Project Review Committee meeting,” said Melanie Peavy, Wildwood development services director. “The project meets the minimum requirements of the land development regulations.”
Trailwinds is one of two developments planned for the area between the Sandhill golf course and County Road 462. Construction also could begin this spring on 400 rental bungalows that are the first phase of the WholeLife development west of Trailwinds. That project also will include businesses, an assisted living center and an apartment building of up to six stories.
Trailwinds developer Jerry Hart said he could not comment on whether any businesses or other parties have signed contracts to locate in his development. But he said having the infrastructure in place should spur interest.
“The horizontal will trigger the vertical,” he said.
Hart also did not say whether he thought the WholeLife development would help Trailwinds.
“It just means we have a neighbor,” he said.
Since Trailwinds was proposed three years ago, no dirt has been moved and cattle still graze on the property. But the area soon will have city sewer and water connections and 2.1 miles of new roads, including Trailwinds Boulevard, which eventually will run through both developments to CR 462.
Last spring, The Villages offered to buy the Trailwinds property and build nearly 800 homes, but withdrew the plan after Wildwood officials said they preferred mixed-use development that would include businesses and senior living centers. Neither the WholeLife or Trailwinds developments will have access to The Villages.
In other business at Tuesday’s meeting, Lowry also recommended approval of the site plan by the Elim Care Foundation for a three-story, 350,956-square-foot senior care facility and a 31,000-square-foot church on about 25 acres near Walmart on County Road 103 near Woodbridge Drive. The senior facility will include independent living, assisted living and memory care.
The two projects, which received planned unit development zoning last year, will be constructed and owned separately.
