Wildwood officials approved plats for four Village of Fenney neighborhoods this week while Sumter County took a first step toward widening the roadway in front of the development.
The Village of Fenney, the latest residential construction project of The Villages, is about three miles down County Road 468 from State Road 44.
The county will use the state’s “quick taking” condemnation law to acquire easements along CR 468 for the roadway project.
The road will be widened between U.S. 301 and County Road 505 and the easement is sought from a property identified as Wildwood Ranch. A mobile home is located on part of the property.
Commissioners voted Tuesday night to begin the eminent domain procedure, which involves going before a judge and depositing an amount equal to the estimated value of the easement. A jury later can decide whether the amount is fair.
The county is seeking an eight-foot easement for the roadway as well as drainage and two-year temporary construction easements. The easements total 4,684 square feet.
An easement already has been negotiated with the property owners, but the condemnation is necessary because others may have interest in the property, according to a resolution approved by the county board.
Meanwhile, Wildwood commissioners Monday night approved plats for four more Fenney neighborhoods. They include the 58-home Sweetgum Villas, the 69-home Spartina Villas, a 130-home neighborhood and a 124-home neighborhood. More than a half dozen other neighborhood plats already have been approved.
