[Villages Kahuna]

There has been a whole lot of earth-moving happening on the south side of CR 466, right across from the new Santa Fe strip mall. I checked with the Sumter County building department and they said no permits have been issued, but none are necessary for grading and site preparation. The Daily Sun says the project is "wetlands reclamation". The retailers in the Santa Fe stores have been told that the project is to "return the land to nature". But many are questioning the installation of large 5-foot underground culverts--for "wetland reclamation"?

If what's being reported is correct, the large (maybe 15-20 acre) area will look beautiful with natural vegetation and trees and the wetland ponds. That would be particularly true if walking paths were placed throughout the area. The land is part of The Villages and the work is apparently being done by the developer.

Does anyone have any more information than this?

[villages07]

Kahuna,

At the risk of being accused of spreading rumors without substantiated facts....

I was at a party at a house in Caroline that backs up to the preserve....there seemed to be several folks who had heard that a hotel might be constructed on the area closest to 466, but, still far enough away from these folks that they weren't too upset about it. And, the wetlands reclamation will be nicer for them to look at than the 'cow pie' factory.

Again, this is rumor.

Fact though, is that the county will be widening 466 to 4 lanes from the Lake County boundary to Rolling Acres, with construction starting this August. Not sure if this is why culverts were seen?

Further, there is a project to widen 466 from Rolling Acres to 441, starting in the next year.

[captain1202]

I have seen reference somewhere (Village Sun???) that this project is to "clean uop" a previous peat mining operation and restore the area to a more attractive condition. Not sure why they'd need culverts but then again, I'm not doing the project.

[Happy62]

If it is not in the Daily Sun COnstruction portion, then The Villages does not own it...

[Pete]

Check with Sumter county Planning and Zoning, they woud be the first ones to know.

[gemorc]

Take a good look at what is now happening in Brevard County. When you place beautiful natural parcels of land, in the middle of multiple homesites, you are literally playing with fire. TV allready have many of these areas now. For example, the nature areas along Morse Blvd. bordering Rio Ponderosa, are just waiting for a lightening strike.

I am not trying to be an alarmist, but with the drought conditions as they are now, with forecasts of the same for years to come, do we need all these "Nature Areas"?

[Village Kid 2]

Yes, we need the Nature Areas.
VK2

[Muncle]

This might be the area of which you speak. This was posted by both Sam and me in the last month or so. It was a question at a VHA/CDD & Developer meeting:

15. There is a rumor that the Developer has recently purchased more land along CR 466 or has recently exercised an option on an additional 10,000 acres. Is there any truth to this rumor and if so can you comment on the plans for this land?

There is no truth to the rumor that The Villages of Lake-Sumter Inc., has recently exercised an option on an additional 10,000 acres. The work going on across the road from the Hope Lutheran Church is land mitigation only. This was previously a peat mining operation that has moved out and the land is being reclaimed.

[renielarson]

Ya all think you know what's happening but the reality is that we won't know until it really happens.

Speculation and here say will get us nowhere.