3,700 homes on 1,483 acres in Villages of Southern Oaks approved

[HandyGrandpap]

Per article:
A site plan for up to 3,700 homes on about 1,483 acres in the Villages of Southern Oaks was recommended for approval Tuesday by Special Magistrate Lindsay C.T. Holt at a meeting of the Wildwood Planning and Zoning Board.

Wildwood has authorized construction of nearly 50,000 homes south of State Road 44 in Southern oaks, which will nearly double the size of The Villages north of SR 44 when they are completed.

Eventually, The Villages is expected to reach State Road 48 at the city limits of Center Hill.

https://www.**************.com/2023/12/05/magistrate-approves-site-plan-for-3700-more-homes-in-the-villages/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Magistrate+approves+site+plan+for+3%2C 700+more+homes+in+The+Villages&utm_campaign=**************+-+Standard+-+REDESIGN+-+Daily+Newsletter+-+5%3A30am#google_vignette

[rustyp]

BUILD BABY BUILD ! Share the lifestyle. Good for the economy and we get the added benefit of more amenities. Exciting times here in The Villages.

[Normal]

Per article:
A site plan for up to 3,700 homes on about 1,483 acres in the Villages of Southern Oaks was recommended for approval Tuesday by Special Magistrate Lindsay C.T. Holt at a meeting of the Wildwood Planning and Zoning Board.


https://www.**************.com/2023/12/05/magistrate-approves-site-plan-for-3700-more-homes-in-the-villages/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Magistrate+approves+site+plan+for+3%2C 700+more+homes+in+The+Villages&utm_campaign=**************+-+Standard+-+REDESIGN+-+Daily+Newsletter+-+5%3A30am#google_vignette

It may be time to break up fire protection services and remove it from the county plate. The only thing that complicates this is the unincorporated section which would have to rely on county centered services. If you pay Wildwood, Fruitland Park, or Leesburg taxes, you are covered. The shortfall would have to be made up by unincorporated tax payers for their own service.

The issue is ugly, but sooner or later it needs fixed. The overlapped 124 dollar a year tax is an outgrown bandage.

Just having the county control it all is well outdated and impractical. The NEW Villages Dependent District formulated by the county would be a game changer for legal actions and logistical grounds to get back our community to be run by its citizens.

[Byte1]

Do you think that once they expand to Orlando, we will be able to drive our golf carts to the airport and bypass the toll roads? Or maybe they could install a subway to the airport. :gc:

[Veiragirl]

Per article:
A site plan for up to 3,700 homes on about 1,483 acres in the Villages of Southern Oaks was recommended for approval Tuesday by Special Magistrate Lindsay C.T. Holt at a meeting of the Wildwood Planning and Zoning Board.

Wildwood has authorized construction of nearly 50,000 homes south of State Road 44 in Southern oaks, which will nearly double the size of The Villages north of SR 44 when they are completed.

Eventually, The Villages is expected to reach State Road 48 at the city limits of Center Hill.

https://www.**************.com/2023/12/05/magistrate-approves-site-plan-for-3700-more-homes-in-the-villages/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Magistrate+approves+site+plan+for+3%2C 700+more+homes+in+The+Villages&utm_campaign=**************+-+Standard+-+REDESIGN+-+Daily+Newsletter+-+5%3A30am#google_vignette
Sad. We are quickly losing the feeling of THE VILLAGES. It's too big and spread out. Why don't the Morses just buy the whole state of Florida? It's called Power and Greed

[Arctic Fox]

Sad. We are quickly losing the feeling of THE VILLAGES. It's too big and spread out. Why don't the Morses just buy the whole state of Florida? It's called Power and Greed

I suspect that "the feeling of The Villages" is different for each of us.

Those who came before Lake Sumter Landing was built probably have a very different idea of what The Villages means from those just arriving.

When we got here there was nothing south of 466A, and we rarely go down there now, so any further build will not change things for me one iota.

[Bogie Shooter]

Sad. We are quickly losing the feeling of THE VILLAGES. It's too big and spread out. Why don't the Morses just buy the whole state of Florida? It's called Power and Greed

Power an agreed………..NOT!

[Normal]

Power an agreed………..NOT!

The mechanism for success yes, the perpetual motion is difficult to reduce.

[justjim]

Growth has its upside and downside. Always has and always will. Jobs jobs jobs!

[Altavia]

Does anyone know how to get to the meeting minutes whet this was approved?

[Normal]

Does anyone know how to get to the meeting minutes whet this was approved?
Magistrate approved, not voted on yet?

Meeting agenda for tomorrow
Public Portal • CivicClerk (https://wildwoodfl.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2183/files/4627)

H,I and J.

[AMB444]

As a soon to be early retiree I'm wondering if many retirees are just looking for a safe place to "land".

Those of us coming from bigger cities aren't exactly liking what we see as far as rising crime in our current neighborhoods. Just my 2c...

[Altavia]

Magistrate approved, not voted on yet?

Meeting agenda for tomorrow
Public Portal • CivicClerk (https://wildwoodfl.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2183/files/4627)

H,I and J.

Thanks!

[Rainger99]

[QUOTE=HandyGrandpap;2281212]
Eventually, The Villages is expected to reach State Road 48 at the city limits of Center Hill.

Do you mean County Road 48? I can’t find a State Road 48 near us.

[Blackbird45]

I'm a New Yorker and if you want to get an idea of what the villages and the surrounding area is going to look like in the future, take a look at Long Island. The boom started in the 50s where you could get a nice house for a decent price. Today the houses are so packed together you can almost right off on your taxes your neighbor as being part of your family. The only good thing is if you bought a house in those days, it's worth 10 times what you paid for it. The good thing for me is I'm not going to be around long enough to watch that happen here.

[GizmoWhiskers]

Can't wait to hear about the next center of T V. Eastport is getting old lol.

[Normal]

Can't wait to hear about the next center of T V. Eastport is getting old lol.

At least 15 years before it catches Spanish Springsitus?

[frayedends]

If I'm looking at the maps correctly is this a new village being put in below Green Grove Hill and just east of Water's Edge villages. Is that correct?

Can't past the article but if you search "Magistrate approves site plan for 3,700 more homes in The Villages" you will find the article easy enough.

ETA I'm a bit confused because the article says it's north of Middleton. That would be the prison area, no? But the map in the article seems to show it more east of what we already knew in Continuing the Dream. Hard to tell without full sized maps and trying to piece it together. There is a map lower in the article which seems to show the position a bit better, but hard to zoom. Also seems to be east of Water's Edge and Shady Brook.

[Goldwingnut]

It may be time to break up fire protection services and remove it from the county plate. The only thing that complicates this is the unincorporated section which would have to rely on county centered services. If you pay Wildwood, Fruitland Park, or Leesburg taxes, you are covered. The shortfall would have to be made up by unincorporated tax payers for their own service.

The issue is ugly, but sooner or later it needs fixed. The overlapped 124 dollar a year tax is an outgrown bandage.

Just having the county control it all is well outdated and impractical. The NEW Villages Dependent District formulated by the county would be a game changer for legal actions and logistical grounds to get back our community to be run by its citizens.

Where have you been for the last 2 years on this topic? Sumter County Board of County Commissioners 2 weeks ago took the final actions to create the Villages Public Safety Dependent District culminating and closing the book on the Fire Department issues in Sumter County and The Villages.

Beginning on 1 October 2024 the Sumter County and VPSD will be funded independent of each other allowing the two departments to provide the services uniquely needed for their service areas. The separate funding models allow the different levels of service without the inherent conflicts that arise from the use of a single funding model.

VPSD operates within a defined boundary within Sumter County that includes all of the Sumter County sections of The Villages (developed and undeveloped) as well as several enclaves within those boundaries where logic dictated that these non-Villages areas are better and more logically served by VPSD instead of SCFEMS. Additionally, VPSD has operating agreements (including compensation) with Marion County, Lake County, Fruitland Park, Lady Lake, and now (I believe) Leesburg to provide fire and EMS services to the non-Sumter Count portions of The Villages.

With the exception of a few rural properties who pay no county property taxes due to the low land values and applied exemptions, nobody in Sumter County pays $125/year for fire services. This is a myth and false political talking point used by the POA and V-N website to further their misguided agendas of sowing hate and discontent against the business communities of Sumter County and of course the developer of The Villages.

The $125 generates less than 25% of the revenue needed to fund the operations of the two fire departments in Sumter County. The remaining funding comes from the General Fund of the Sumter County budget. This represents about 30% of the General Fund expenditures annually. This translates to each developed property paying $125 plus 30% of their annual county property tax for fire and EMS services. For me personally, that translates to about $875 for this year. For a business it's the same. During the budget issues over the last few months claims were made that the 6 properties than comprise the commercial sections of Brownwood only paid $750/year combined for fire services, this is not only false, its was known by the entities making this claim that it was false (yes that means that they were lying about this). The Brownwood properties with their 30% property tax contribution pay $750 plus approximately $200,000 per year for fire services. The Lofts properties also pay a similar amount. It is the same for all businesses in Sumter County.

For those not familiar with how a business runs its finances here's a fact for you. Businesses don't pay taxes. They collect taxes and pass them on to the government assessing the taxes. Taxes to a business are treated the same as labor, material, energy, and every other cost that is incurred to operate their business, make their product, and/or provide their service. These are all added together and then marked up for the final price their customer will pay. The taxes don't come out of the profits, they are paid before profits are determined.

Wildwood doesn't have a fire department, they a covered by either SCFEMS or VPSD depending on the location, their budget (taxes paid to them by city residents) does not cover fire serices. I can't speak to the Fruitland Park and Leesburg fire services because I haven't taken the time to look into them, I've been more than busy with the fire services for Sumter County, The Villages, and the 5 municipalities that make up Sumter County for the last year and a half.

Quality fire services in The Villages and Sumter County are not an issue, and thankfully or at least for the time being, no longer is their funding.

[Goldwingnut]

If I'm looking at the maps correctly is this a new village being put in below Green Grove Hill and just east of Water's Edge villages. Is that correct?

ETA I'm a bit confused because the article says it's north of Middleton. That would be the prison area, no? But the map in the article seems to show it more east of what we already knew in Continuing the Dream. Hard to tell without full sized maps and trying to piece it together.

The area is along the Sumter-Lake county line just south of CR470. It is east of the Middleton area. This area is a part of the new areas of The Villages (continuing the dream) and has been since the acquisition of the property several years ago. They do sections at a time for permitting, planning, and construction purposes, that's all you are seeing in the news. This area is still about 5 years from being a viable "Village" and part of the community.

[frayedends]

The area is along the Sumter-Lake county line just south of CR470. It is east of the Middleton area. This area is a part of the new areas of The Villages (continuing the dream) and has been since the acquisition of the property several years ago. They do sections at a time for permitting, planning, and construction purposes, that's all you are seeing in the news. This area is still about 5 years from being a viable "Village" and part of the community.

That makes sense. The article stating "north of Middleton" was confusing. Other than that we knew the land was owned by the Villages. Southern Oak village wasn't on our continuing the dream maps yet, which makes sense if they hadn't yet gotten approval.

[bsloan1960]

Sad. We are quickly losing the feeling of THE VILLAGES. It's too big and spread out. Why don't the Morses just buy the whole state of Florida? It's called Power and Greed No. It is Capitalism. And it is a system that works for middle class people like us who live in The Villages. Businesses exist to stay in business and to grow. The desire to grow a business is not greed- it comes from the human desire to build and have ones ideas of creativity come to fruition. It is pride in an accomplishment. It is the challenge to take an existing business that might otherwise become stagnant- and infuse it with new, creative ideas and see it continue to flourish. It is cheering, and telling yourself, "Well done"! when an insurmountable problem gives way to inspirational solutions.

[Normal]

Where have you been for the last 2 years on this topic? Sumter County Board of County Commissioners 2 weeks ago took the final actions to create the Villages Public Safety Dependent District culminating and closing the book on the Fire Department issues in Sumter County and The Villages.

Beginning on 1 October 2024 the Sumter County and VPSD will be funded independent of each other allowing the two departments to provide the services uniquely needed for their service areas. The separate funding models allow the different levels of service without the inherent conflicts that arise from the use of a single funding model.

VPSD operates within a defined boundary within Sumter County that includes all of the Sumter County sections of The Villages (developed and undeveloped) as well as several enclaves within those boundaries where logic dictated that these non-Villages areas are better and more logically served by VPSD instead of SCFEMS. Additionally, VPSD has operating agreements (including compensation) with Marion County, Lake County, Fruitland Park, Lady Lake, and now (I believe) Leesburg to provide fire and EMS services to the non-Sumter Count portions of The Villages.

With the exception of a few rural properties who pay no county property taxes due to the low land values and applied exemptions, nobody in Sumter County pays $125/year for fire services. This is a myth and false political talking point used by the POA and V-N website to further their misguided agendas of sowing hate and discontent against the business communities of Sumter County and of course the developer of The Villages.

The $125 generates less than 25% of the revenue needed to fund the operations of the two fire departments in Sumter County. The remaining funding comes from the General Fund of the Sumter County budget. This represents about 30% of the General Fund expenditures annually. This translates to each developed property paying $125 plus 30% of their annual county property tax for fire and EMS services. For me personally, that translates to about $875 for this year. For a business it's the same. During the budget issues over the last few months claims were made that the 6 properties than comprise the commercial sections of Brownwood only paid $750/year combined for fire services, this is not only false, its was known by the entities making this claim that it was false (yes that means that they were lying about this). The Brownwood properties with their 30% property tax contribution pay $750 plus approximately $200,000 per year for fire services. The Lofts properties also pay a similar amount. It is the same for all businesses in Sumter County.

For those not familiar with how a business runs its finances here's a fact for you. Businesses don't pay taxes. They collect taxes and pass them on to the government assessing the taxes. Taxes to a business are treated the same as labor, material, energy, and every other cost that is incurred to operate their business, make their product, and/or provide their service. These are all added together and then marked up for the final price their customer will pay. The taxes don't come out of the profits, they are paid before profits are determined.

Wildwood doesn't have a fire department, they a covered by either SCFEMS or VPSD depending on the location, their budget (taxes paid to them by city residents) does not cover fire serices. I can't speak to the Fruitland Park and Leesburg fire services because I haven't taken the time to look into them, I've been more than busy with the fire services for Sumter County, The Villages, and the 5 municipalities that make up Sumter County for the last year and a half.

Quality fire services in The Villages and Sumter County are not an issue, and thankfully or at least for the time being, no longer is their funding.

Yep, totally get it. I know the new board has a lot of virgin ground to break. The Villages Fire department, will then be a separate funding issue from Wildwood taxes? Where Wildwood already incorporates a rate to fund Sumter for fire? Why pay Wildwood and a separate fee? Actual Wildwood residents get a free ride off of Villages residents? Maybe Wildwood steps up and serves its residents with fire?

There is a crack in Wildwood’s foundation. Will they still expect county coverage? A large part of the Villages is Wildwood! Entitled through taxes to be treated equally.

[Indydealmaker]

Sad. We are quickly losing the feeling of THE VILLAGES. It's too big and spread out. Why don't the Morses just buy the whole state of Florida? It's called Power and Greed
It's called growing a successful business.

[Justputt]

To the developer's credit, even in the older sections, the grass is cut, shrubs cared for, flowers planted, and everything is well maintained. Too many developers just move on when an area is built out and then decay sets in, but not in TV! One thing that impressed my wife and I is how well things are maintained as they age. The developer is even going back into older areas and updating facilities. That gives us comfort.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Sad. We are quickly losing the feeling of THE VILLAGES. It's too big and spread out. Why don't the Morses just buy the whole state of Florida? It's called Power and GreedI’ve had a home here off and on since 2001 , it was a nice place to live for a few months a year anything more was boring , it’s a much better place now with so much more to do .

[rsimpson]

Per article:
A site plan for up to 3,700 homes on about 1,483 acres in the Villages of Southern Oaks was recommended for approval Tuesday by Special Magistrate Lindsay C.T. Holt at a meeting of the Wildwood Planning and Zoning Board.

Wildwood has authorized construction of nearly 50,000 homes south of State Road 44 in Southern oaks, which will nearly double the size of The Villages north of SR 44 when they are completed.

Eventually, The Villages is expected to reach State Road 48 at the city limits of Center Hill.

https://www.**************.com/2023/12/05/magistrate-approves-site-plan-for-3700-more-homes-in-the-villages/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Magistrate+approves+site+plan+for+3%2C 700+more+homes+in+The+Villages&utm_campaign=**************+-+Standard+-+REDESIGN+-+Daily+Newsletter+-+5%3A30am#google_vignette

Been a bit skimpy on Executive Courses in the Sawgrass Grove and Newell areas!

Let's Go Morse family. A bit light in the ratio of new homes to new courses.

[Mollusk29]

Per article:
A site plan for up to 3,700 homes on about 1,483 acres in the Villages of Southern Oaks was recommended for approval Tuesday by Special Magistrate Lindsay C.T. Holt at a meeting of the Wildwood Planning and Zoning Board.

Wildwood has authorized construction of nearly 50,000 homes south of State Road 44 in Southern oaks, which will nearly double the size of The Villages north of SR 44 when they are completed.

Eventually, The Villages is expected to reach State Road 48 at the city limits of Center Hill.

https://www.**************.com/2023/12/05/magistrate-approves-site-plan-for-3700-more-homes-in-the-villages/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Magistrate+approves+site+plan+for+3%2C 700+more+homes+in+The+Villages&utm_campaign=**************+-+Standard+-+REDESIGN+-+Daily+Newsletter+-+5%3A30am#google_vignette

Too many homes on too little acreage. It boggles my mind why people want to live on top of each other.

[Nana2Teddy]

The area is along the Sumter-Lake county line just south of CR470. It is east of the Middleton area. This area is a part of the new areas of The Villages (continuing the dream) and has been since the acquisition of the property several years ago. They do sections at a time for permitting, planning, and construction purposes, that's all you are seeing in the news. This area is still about 5 years from being a viable "Village" and part of the community.
Can’t wait for your next video, Don. Much has progressed since your last one. Merry Christmas! 😊

[KJ1325]

Why is it for a medical emergency they send an ambulance/rescue squad, fire truck, and sometimes a pick up? A total of sometimes 6 people. Are all 6 people working on the patient? I'm not being critical but this seems a bit overkill and potentially wasting money. I know in Ohio when we had a medical emergency it typically involved a recue squad and that's it. Does Florida have some sort of a law that requires this much response?

[RPDaly]

///

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

No. It is Capitalism. And it is a system that works for middle class people like us who live in The Villages. Businesses exist to stay in business and to grow. The desire to grow a business is not greed- it comes from the human desire to build and have ones ideas of creativity come to fruition. It is pride in an accomplishment. It is the challenge to take an existing business that might otherwise become stagnant- and infuse it with new, creative ideas and see it continue to flourish. It is cheering, and telling yourself, "Well done"! when an insurmountable problem gives way to inspirational solutions.you have to understand for many they’ll never see a president like Herbert Hoover again or a car like there old LaSalle

[Beachbabe]

I like the additions so far. more rec center, pools and gold courses. I'm first in line for the Village of Disney.

[rustyp]

you have to understand for many they’ll never see a president like Herbert Hoover again or a car like there old LaSalle

those were the days

[Chamo]

The more they build the more our fees go up.
Amenities keep going up your going to price people out.

[Papa_lecki]

The more they build the more our fees go up.
Amenities keep going up your going to price people out.

Actually, our fees go up based on consumer price index, not more building.

A more accurate state would be

The more inflation goes up the more our fees go up.
Amenities keep going up your going to price people out.

[mizerkeith]

BUILD BABY BUILD ! Share the lifestyle. Good for the economy and we get the added benefit of more amenities. Exciting times here in The Villages.
Stupid traffic is already bad getting worst

[JSR22]

Stupid traffic is already bad getting worst

I am from the North East and find there is not any traffic.

[Goldwingnut]

Can’t wait for your next video, Don. Much has progressed since your last one. Merry Christmas! 😊

Been working on it all day today, should be ready this weekend.

[tophcfa]

Thousands of more old folks - Maybe it's time to get that new hospital going down there.

The only thing I disagree about with the above statement is that it’s been time to do something about the severe lack of quality health care for many years. It’s been a black eye on the face of Florida’s friendliest hometown for a long time.

[JMintzer]

Been a bit skimpy on Executive Courses in the Sawgrass Grove and Newell areas!

Let's Go Morse family. A bit light in the ratio of new homes to new courses.

No land to build them down there. It's a narrow strip of land between the turnpike and the massive preserve...

They had room for a (much needed) Championship Course and with the 5 executive courses south of 44, they deemed it appropriate to wait until the Bexley Bridge connected that area to Eastport where multiple courses are being built and are being planned for the future...

[rustyp]

Stupid traffic is already bad getting worst

Ah the old now that I'm here we should shut it down. I remember the same traffic speech when I arrived in TV 2005.

[MSchad]

The more they build the more our fees go up.
Amenities keep going up your going to price people out.
Building and amenity fees are not related. You need to educate yourself on the various branches of this community and how they are funded and operate.

[Ladays1978@gmail.com]

They are building homes and not enough golf courses]

[Radams311]

Yesterday, we received an email from Leesburg County about water conservation. Unnecessary water use not permitted. 3700 more homes?

[Altavia]

Yesterday, we received an email from Leesburg County about water conservation. Unnecessary water use not permitted. 3700 more homes?

Broad brush approach. I'm sure there's low water in parts of the affected area but yet the water table is so high in the southern area water ponds on the surface in places and the new retention ponds self fill with water...

[Altavia]

They are building homes and not enough golf courses]

More than 30% of the new areas is dedicated to golf courses. At least eight are in work now plus a new Golf Academy and driving range.

Everything on this year old map is in work.

Continuing The Dream: Volume 15 (https://www.nxtbook.com/thevillages/TheVillages/ContinuingTheDream_Vol15/index.php)

[Normal]

Broad brush approach. I'm sure there's low water in parts of the affected area but yet the water table is so high in that area the new retention ponds self fill with water...

Water is pumped from Sumter county retention ponds to make the area look better. The system is interconnected. Notice sand lines on St. Catherine and Citrus Grove reservoirs.. Don’t forget, most of the new area south of the turnpike is indeed Sumter county. However, the ponds in Leesburg (Lake County) have gone lower overnight in Newell.

[margaretmattson]

The only thing I disagree about with the above statement is that it’s been time to do something about the severe lack of quality health care for many years. It’s been a black eye on the face of Florida’s friendliest hometown for a long time.I have been here for 23 yrs. When residents become severely ill, most pack up and head back north. It is a little white lie that the majority of villagers who leave do so because they miss their families. They leave because they have no choice.

[Bogie Shooter]

I have been here for 23 yrs. When residents become severely ill, most pack up and head back north. It is a little white lie that the majority of villagers who leave do so because they miss their families. They leave because they have no choice.

Guess just an opinion……..never read any data supporting this claim.

[rustyp]

I have been here for 23 yrs. When residents become severely ill, most pack up and head back north. It is a little white lie that the majority of villagers who leave do so because they miss their families. They leave because they have no choice.

OR they want to spend the end of days with family ?

[kendi]

Sad. We are quickly losing the feeling of THE VILLAGES. It's too big and spread out. Why don't the Morses just buy the whole state of Florida? It's called Power and Greed

Or maybe an enjoyable project and love of their work. Not fair to assume greed.

[Altavia]

Or maybe an enjoyable project and love of their work. Not fair to assume greed.

I agree, they are building on the legacy. Too many nice things to be only about the business. They are playing SimCity in real life

[Altavia]

Water is pumped from Sumter county retention ponds to make the area look better. The system is interconnected. Notice sand lines on St. Catherine and Citrus Grove reservoirs.. Don’t forget, most of the new area south of the turnpike is indeed Sumter county. However, the ponds in Leesburg (Lake County) have gone lower overnight in Newell.

It is amazing how fast the new reservoirs fill but according to Don Wiley, there is no connection to reservoirs in already built areas. Certainly no connection under the turnpike.

Reservoirs in the nearst areas south of Warm Springs like Monarch Grove remain at or near above normal levels.

[Normal]

Villagers who reside in Wildwood lines are double taxed anyway. Wildwood Villagers pay a fire fee to Sumter Co, they also pay city taxes to Wildwood who subsidizes and is covered for fire by…………Sumter Co.

Help Wildwood by paying taxes that support their fire, then pay for our fire as well.

[Bill14564]

Villagers who reside in Wildwood lines are double taxed anyway. Wildwood Villagers pay a fire fee to Sumter Co, they also pay city taxes to Wildwood who subsidizes and is covered for fire by…………Sumter Co.

Help Wildwood with our taxes with their fire, then pay for fire as well.

No double taxation for fire protection.

There is no Wildwood Fire Department. Wildwood does not provide fire protection. I can find no line item in the Sumter County budget for a transfer of taxes from Wildwood to the County to cover fire protection.

Wildwood residents are all residents of the County. The County assesses a fire protection fee and property taxes which are used to fund fire protection.

[SaveTownofLadyLake]

Retention ponds are created to direct water away from buildings and roadways to prevent flooding.

Flooding happens because of the changes to the topography of the land.

More building, more people, more people longer wait times for medical appointments and many doctors are already not accepting new patients.

You can move but to where it’s happening everywhere, we all are paying whether it’s in taxes or services it’s costing all of us it’s really hard on fixed income to manage anymore

[Bill14564]

Retention ponds are created to direct water away from buildings and roadways to prevent flooding.
Sometimes and sort of. They are created to retain the water that has been redirected: sometimes to prevent flooding, sometimes to provide water for other uses, and sometimes both.

Flooding happens because of the changes to the topography of the land.
Sometimes and sort of. If you build in a flood plain then flooding happens because it always has. If you build in a swamp like Florida then flooding happens because it always has. Sometimes when the topography is changed it creates a landscape that is prone to flooding while other times it channels water away from a flood prone area to create more usable land.

More building, more people, more people longer wait times for medical appointments and many doctors are already not accepting new patients.
More building, more people, more people more demand, more demand more supply, more supply lower wait times. We'll have to see what happens with the hospital that was proposed for just inside the Lake County line, maybe it will be restarted.

You can move but to where it’s happening everywhere, we all are paying whether it’s in taxes or services it’s costing all of us it’s really hard on fixed income to manage anymore
Another good reason to encourage an influx of working families that are not on fixed income and will pay taxes.

[GizmoWhiskers]

Thousands of more old folks - Maybe it's time to get that new hospital going down there.
Once upon a time the new huge hospital/research facility to be built in the "new center" of T V was a selling point... is that still the case? I don't think its being built anymore (?)

[RPDaly]

///

[Goldwingnut]

Once upon a time the new huge hospital/research facility to be built in the "new center" of T V was a selling point... is that still the case? I don't think its being built anymore (?)

Yes, it's still in the works and planning stages. Building a hospital is a HUGE project. I helped build two new hospitals while working in construction before retiring, it takes literally years planning and design work before ground is ever broken. Once they break ground it takes years to build, a modern hospital is the most complicated and complex building to construct. I worked the Shands Cardiovascular Neuroscience hospital from groundbreaking to opening day - 4 1/2 years to build and equip, we spent 3 more months refining our system installation after opening before turning the systems over to the hospital staff and our service department. Bottom line, if they announced today that they have a contract to build a hospital, it would likely be at least 7 or 8 years before the first patient is ever admitted.

[Goldwingnut]

No double taxation for fire protection.

There is no Wildwood Fire Department. Wildwood does not provide fire protection. I can find no line item in the Sumter County budget for a transfer of taxes from Wildwood to the County to cover fire protection.

Wildwood residents are all residents of the County. The County assesses a fire protection fee and property taxes which are used to fund fire protection.

Spot on! Your assessment is 100% correct.
So much misinformation is being spouted by so many uninformed people!

[Normal]

Spot on! Your assessment is 100% correct.
So much misinformation is being spouted by so many uninformed people!

Thank you so much for the clarifications. Sometimes the frustration of paying taxes to a city that does nothing for us seems frustrating. I appreciate the education and clarity.

[asianthree]

It is amazing how fast the new reservoirs fill but according to Don Wiley, there is no connection to reservoirs in already built areas. Certainly no connection under the turnpike.

Reservoirs in the nearst areas south of Warm Springs like Monarch Grove remain at or near above normal levels.

Still think the lady who thought trucks were removing water from northern villages and trucking the water to new ponds in the south. I still have visions of a ford 150 with bed full of water sloshing down Meggison.:pepper2:

[Altavia]

Still think the lady who thought trucks were removing water from northern villages and trucking the water to new ponds in the south. I still have visions of a ford 150 with bed full of water sloshing down Meggison.:pepper2:

LOL

There are huge trucks that apparently flush and vacuum out sewer/storm water lines. So maybe that's what she saw.

Those trucks been very busy in Wellpoint the past week. They refill from fire hydrants in Monarch Grove.

Would not be surprised to see home construction in start in Wellpoint early next year.

[Bogie Shooter]

Spot on! Your assessment is 100% correct.
So much misinformation is being spouted by so many uninformed people!

So true, one could compile a list.

[RPDaly]

///

[Bill14564]

So you just proved the point then that the hospital should have been started years ago if it takes that long to build and during this time the population of TV has and is set to explode further.

If I only knew then what I know now.

Sure, one might have guessed that the Villages would continue to grow but it would be difficult to convince investors to commit tens of millions of dollars on that guess. Then there was Covid to delay things and impact fee battles to affect location choices.

Is it true that surrounding health care facilities are full to capacity or is it the case that the most convenient and popular locations are filling and it's easy to complain about overcrowding?

[Goldwingnut]

So you just proved the point then that the hospital should have been started years ago if it takes that long to build and during this time the population of TV has and is set to explode further.

Sorry but it doesn't work that way, "if you build it they will come" only works in the movies. For a hospital there has to be a certification of need issued by the county and the state, this isn't issued until there is actually a need, not a "we plan on building houses here so we need a hospital".

And by the way, that certificate of need was issued about 3 years ago and things were in progress until the BOCC decided to go down the let's screw the developer and all the other businesses route and spooked UF from building a teaching/research hospital in Sumter County. Millions of dollars and years of planning and preliminary work were flushed down the toilet due to the previous BOCC's actions based on being uninformed, influenced by biased groups, a complete lack of understanding of how the economy in Sumter County works, not a clue of how businesses actually work. Fortunately there have been changed on the BOCC, the county has recovered from the chaos, and things are once again moving in the right direction.

Because of the delays that were introduced by the previous BOCC's actions things are not as far along as anyone would like them to be, but progress IS being made.

[huge-pigeons]

150,000 or 200,000 people does not constitute a big city. If the developers keep building the amenities for each new village, then that will take away some of the issues. I like not having all the shopping issues that Spanish springs has with all the traffic issues. The developers have been doing a good job in their later village developments

[Michael 61]

150,000 or 200,000 people does not constitute a big city. If the developers keep building the amenities for each new village, then that will take away some of the issues. I like not having all the shopping issues that Spanish springs has with all the traffic issues. The developers have been doing a good job in their later village developments

I agree - most folks I talk to here south of 44 do not want a “carbon copy” of the shopping/traffic quagmire of 441 near Spanish Springs - just way too congested.

I find it interesting that many older residents call out the lack of shopping in the southern areas of The Villages, as if lots of retail shopping is something to be desired. Many of the younger generations now retiring to The Villages, do not need nor want all the retail found in the older sections of The Villages. Most of us are happy purchasing most of our household and clothing items online, and just need to be near a Publix, a pharmacy and a gas station.

I think it’s more of a generational thing, with older residents enjoying shopping more frequently than younger generations.

[frayedends]

I agree - most folks I talk to here south of 44 do not want a “carbon copy” of the shopping/traffic quagmire of 441 near Spanish Springs - just way too congested.

I find it interesting that many older residents call out the lack of shopping in the southern areas of The Villages, as if lots of retail shopping is something to be desired. Many of the younger generations now retiring to The Villages, do not need nor want all the retail found in the older sections of The Villages. Most of us are happy purchasing most of our household and clothing items online, and just need to be near a Publix, a pharmacy and a gas station.

I think it’s more of a generational thing, with older residents enjoying shopping more frequently than younger generations.

I agree. As a new Lake Denham owner, 54 years old, part time until I can retire in a few years, I could not care less about retail stores. However I do want night life, and restaurants. I’d love a combo of sawgrass and brownwood. More restaurants than Sawgrass, less retail than Brownwood.

[Woodbear]

Thank you so much for the clarifications. Sometimes the frustration of paying taxes to a city that does nothing for us seems frustrating. I appreciate the education and clarity.

Wildwood Police does give us lots of worthless speed traps (thank you Waze). When it comes to deterring crime (recent auto break in and catalytic converter thefts) things are getting worse, not better.

I love the school tax on our bill even though nobody will be sending a child to a school. The hogs (Wildwood Govt.) are getting fat off the extra slop we are forced to feed them.

[Normal]

Wildwood Police does give us lots of worthless speed traps (thank you Waze). When it comes to deterring crime (recent auto break in and catalytic converter thefts) things are getting worse, not better.

I love the school tax on our bill even though nobody will be sending a child to a school. The hogs (Wildwood Govt.) are getting fat off the extra slop we are forced to feed them.

Ya, Wildwood is a taker, certainly not a giver. But hey, they get a new 50 thousand dollar per parking space parking deck for their city hall and Bargains and Teasures thrift store. I hope to visit the area one day, but I don’t fancy the long drive (20 minutes). I’m more content here in the Villages.

Wolf, Bivens, Elliot, Flores, and Green need to go. All positions are at large. The POA is more than aware of the issue. The good news, maybe another 5,000 votes from the section.

[Bogie Shooter]

:blahblahblah

[Robnlaura]

Yes, it's still in the works and planning stages. Building a hospital is a HUGE project. I helped build two new hospitals while working in construction before retiring, it takes literally years planning and design work before ground is ever broken. Once they break ground it takes years to build, a modern hospital is the most complicated and complex building to construct. I worked the Shands Cardiovascular Neuroscience hospital from groundbreaking to opening day - 4 1/2 years to build and equip, we spent 3 more months refining our system installation after opening before turning the systems over to the hospital staff and our service department. Bottom line, if they announced today that they have a contract to build a hospital, it would likely be at least 7 or 8 years before the first patient is ever admitted.

Thanks for building that place It’s an absolute lifesaver.. best doctors best care. I did both nuero and heart. A 10% survival guy and they made it happen.

[Goldwingnut]

Thanks for building that place It’s an absolute lifesaver.. best doctors best care. I did both nuero and heart. A 10% survival guy and they made it happen.

It's an amazing hospital. The surgery suites are an incredible site to see, SiFi movies get their ideas for what a hospital of the future is supposed to look like from places like this. I remember working in the control room for one of the surgery suites, we were all working trying to get things finished for the hospital to move in the equipment, the control room had 200 ethernet drops and 600 amps of 240vac power to supply the equipment (does not include the actual surgery suite). It took days to move all the equipment moved in and over 2 weeks to get everything up and operational.

In spite of all the technology at the hospital they are still limited by the limits of human knowledge and the frailty of the human body. My son David was a patient there about 6 months before he passed away. I remember sitting in his room and remembering that I had been working in that same room 4 years earlier, remembering all that went into the ICU suites, and remembered when we asked the question "do they really need all of this in every room?", and knowing at that moment that, yes, yes they do and it's all worth it. While none of it was enough to save David, hopefully it has helped save many others.

[NatureBoy]

Too many homes on too little acreage. It boggles my mind why people want to live on top of each other.


I don't want to take care of a large yard/property (or pay someone else to do it).
The more people per acre, the lower my amenity fee.
The more people, the more businesses and services.
The more people, the more clubs and special interest groups.


Do I like watching my neighbor's TV? Or listening to their conversations on their lanai? Or listening to their yippie dogs bark? No. But life is about trade-offs, and I've traded some privacy and peace for recreation amenities and lower maintenance.

And other than driving through on the way to the shopping up north, all the rest of The Villages doesn't impact my life. I tend to stay within a 15-20 min radius. Doesn't matter a whit whether the land outside that radius is cow pastures or apartments.

There are plenty of other places to live besides The Villages.

[coffeebean]

Sad. We are quickly losing the feeling of THE VILLAGES. It's too big and spread out. Why don't the Morses just buy the whole state of Florida? It's called Power and Greed

The "feeling" of The Villages is still the same for me as when I moved here full time in 2016. I was seasonal for three years prior to that. I don't go south of 44 and basically stay north of 466A. My "stomping ground" is the Lake Sumter Landing area. I'm close to lots of restaurants, retail and medical offices. No need for me to head south to walk on nature trails as that is not my thing. Traffic is prominent on 441, 466 and 466A. The neighborhood areas remain quiet and still have that wonderful Villages quiet, homey feel that I loved when I first set eyes on this place. Others may have a different POV.

[coffeebean]

I suspect that "the feeling of The Villages" is different for each of us.

Those who came before Lake Sumter Landing was built probably have a very different idea of what The Villages means from those just arriving.

When we got here there was nothing south of 466A, and we rarely go down there now, so any further build will not change things for me one iota.

Exactly what I just said.

[coffeebean]

Too many homes on too little acreage. It boggles my mind why people want to live on top of each other.

Less property to maintain. We had that up north. Done with that. Love it here on our smaller property.

[coffeebean]

I am from the North East and find there is not any traffic.

Agree. Traffic here, even in high season, is a walk in the park compared to what we had up north in NY and NJ. I guess traffic is a matter of what you get used to.

Driving on the Belt Parkway through Brooklyn and Queens at any time of day......now THAT was traffic.

[Michael 61]

Traffic and growth is such a subjective thing. It really boils down to where you came from. If you lived most your adult life in large urban areas, with the constant noise of sirens, horns honking, traffic and parking congestion, bumper-to-bumper traffic during commute times - then even what is considered “the worst” times of year in The Villages, is nothing in comparison. If you moved here from a farm with a lot of acreage in the middle of North Dakota, where you could hear a pin drop miles away, then I guess The Villages would seem like a major urban area.

Personally, I find The Villages one of the quietest, serene, and easy-to get-around communities I have lived in, not including the very small town I grew up in as a child.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Too many homes on too little acreage. It boggles my mind why people want to live on top of each other. well did you buy here or decide to buy 5 acres and a mule and spend your day fooling around with a lawn and then watching the grass grow because there’s nothing else to do .I remember people ridiculing buyers of big homes in the new sections because some had such small lots , maybe they liked the idea of bigger home smaller lot I certainly do . I’ve never lived anyplace quieter then the villages and I’ve lived in pretty much all the areas at one time or another