Marion County commissioners held a workshop Tuesday regarding the expansion of Village Community Development District 4. The presentation was made by Christopher Rison, senior planner with  Marion County Growth Services.
Rison outlined The Villages’ request for boundary expansion of Village CDD 4. This would be the fourth expansion for this CDD and is necessary because The Villages is planning to add 300 courtyard villas as well as an area which will have commercial ventures.
Rison told the commissioners that his office had requested comments from county departments regarding possible impact of the development on their missions. The only department which indicated some concerns regarding the expansion came from Marion County Fire Rescue.
Division Chief Todd Clifford provided Rison with a memorandum outlining concerns that his division has with the impact the expansion of The Villages would have on fire and rescue services. Rescue 10 is the unit serving The Villages and the area of the proposed expansion. He pointed out that this unit is running at full capacity. He pointed out that “historically, retirement communities represent an increased emergency call volume for ambulances and fire rescue services.”
Clifford’s memorandum also indicated that the expansion would have an impact on Rescue 30, located at Spruce Creek Country Club and Rescue 27 which serves the Weirsdale area as they provide backup for Rescue 10. All three rescue units are extremely busy and far exceed national call volume.
The chief indicated a desire to work with the board of county commissioners and county administration to increase resources if this expansion occurs because failure to do so would result in increased response times for fire rescue services.
Rison also covered the utilities agreement which will handle costs and responsibilities for the extension of utilities to the proposed new residences and businesses. He expects to have a proposed agreement for the commissioners sometime in May.
The commissioners then adjourned their meeting with the understanding that they would be undertaking formal action at their April 19 board meeting.
