The Project Wide Advisory Committee has approved the conceptual design of a $3.5 million Lake Sumter Landing wharf makeover.
PWAC, which oversees amenities south of County Road 466, looked at renderings of the project during a meeting Monday at SeaBreeze Recreation Center.
The project is budgeted to take place in the 2025-26 fiscal year and the committee’s action authorizes District Government to seek bids for the project, which will be funded with amenity money.
The large open deck concept will provide plentiful bench seating and covered structures. A covered gazebo structure will offer, “Comfortable seating for 20+, as well as additional open deck space for watching sunrise, sunset, bird watching, star gazing,” according to the presentation before PWAC. The renovated wharf area “will be the new focal point at Lake Sumter.” The renovation will also include spacious docking and storage for dragon boats and kayaks. Some dragon boaters were at the meeting and spoke in favor of the project.
All decking materials will be made from composite materials to eliminate rot, mold and mildew. Rotting of the dock has been a problem in the past.
Lake Sumter Landing took a beating this past October during Hurricane Milton. The previous gazebo fell into the lake and the boardwalk was flooded for weeks. The District sought FEMA reimbursement for the damage, but that money never arrived from Washington, D.C.
Also at Monday’s meeting, PWAC members rejected the Amenity Authority Committee’s call for a $199 deferral rate on residents’ monthly amenity fees. PWAC members examined revenue and expense projections for the coming years and concluded the $199 deferral rate, also referred to as a “cap,” is unaffordable.