Sumter County commissioners took the first step Tuesday in clearing the way for a 282-unit apartment complex to be built just north of The Villages.
The Commission held the first required public hearing on the project, which seeks to amend the land use designation on a 17.4-acre parcel in the northeast corner of Sumter County from Commercial to High Density Residential. The property is located on NE 136th Avenue, behind the Lowe’s and Bealls stores north of U.S. Hwy. 27/441. It is bordered by The Villages to the south, Stonecrest to the north and Orange Blossom Hills to the east. There also are shopping centers and small commercial uses southwest of the planned apartments, which will include six buildings.
The complex, proposed by landowners Charter Oaks Real Estate LLC and The Villages Crossing Property Home Owners Association Inc., falls in line with an action taken last month by commissioners for a comprehensive plan amendment allowing up to 24 housing units per acre. The proposed complex calls for 16.2 units per acre.
The high-density residential land-use designation is intended to create more housing opportunities for service and retail sector employees needed to service the expansion of The Villages and other housing developments, county officials have said.
“There are a number of locations within the county where developers have expressed interest in higher density residential development, which is currently unsupported by comprehensive plan policies,” Karl Holley, county development services director, wrote in an executive summary of the amendment that was presented to commissioners at their July 24 meeting.
Also, a market analysis presented last month by County Administrator Bradley Arnold found great potential for multifamily housing and he said there is “pent-up demand.” The study found that 3,000 new housing units are needed to support migration to Sumter County and half of the demand could be met by multifamily housing. And that presentation came before this week’s announcement that The Villages plans to build a massive industrial complex south of Coleman that will create thousands of jobs and require even more affordable housing in the near future.
Under the plan amendment, high-density developments are restricted to urban areas where water and sewer services are available. They also must have access to a major road and be within a half mile of a state or federal highway.