Villagers made the trip to Bushnell on Tuesday night to urge the Sumter Commission to reconsider a change in traffic impact fees, something seen as another bone for the Developer of The Villages.
Sumter County Administrator Bradley Arnold made the case for the change in traffic impact fees in an effort to “remain competitive” with surrounding counties.
The county had commissioned a $75,000 study by Tindale Oliver, a Tampa consulting firm that specializes in transportation, community planning and public finance. The study was presented in October. Commissioners pointed to the study and said a cost reduction factor of up to 40 percent would enable the county to compete with other counties.
You can read the entire study at this link:Sumter County Roadway Impact fee (Full Report)
However, that didn’t make sense to Dan Warren of the Village of Gilchrist. With The Villages’ plans for the massive expansion in the Villages of Southern Oaks, he suggested Florida’s Friendliest Hometown will remain linked arm-in-arm with Sumter County.
“Where will The Villages go?” he asked.
Warren asked the commissioners to slow down.
“I am sorry something as important as this, something as complicated as this, didn’t at least warrant a workshop session. I am here to ask you to pause the process and not to approve this tonight,” Warren said.
Gilbert Windsor of the Village of Bonita pointed out that The Villages has routinely been designated as the fastest-growing area of the country. He suggested impact fees could help pay for the massive expansion of The Villages.
He also asked the commission to slow down.
Windsor said the recent 25 percent increase on property owners is still stinging taxpayers. He suggested the reduction in roadway impact fees would add insult to injury.
However, commissioners unanimously voted to forge ahead.
“We are considerably higher than surrounding counties. To stay competitive is important,” said Commissioner Steve Printz.
He was joined in the vote by Commissioners Don Burgess, Al Butler and Garry Breeden. Commissioner Doug Gilpin was absent.
