[kmspla1952]

Quick question please regarding homes that abut a preserve within the Villages.

Can a preserve be sold to a developer and homes built?

We currently live in a Village that had "farm land" (cows, horses, etc) nearby and now we have a Walmart Market Place, 2,200 homes being built and low-income apartments expanding.

I get the "buyer beware", "do your due diligence", "look before you leap" and all that. My question is: Can preserve land be sold?

Thank you.

[villagetinker]

I would ask this question to the county zoning department, I suspect the answer will be NO but since I have never seen the legal documents regarding these areas, this would be a guess.

[retiredguy123]

I doubt it. If the preserve contains any wetlands, they would need a Federal permit to eliminate the wetlands, and/or a mitigation plan to replace the wetlands that were affected. This can sometimes be done, but it is very time consuming, bureaucratic, and expensive. They can also be sued by environmental groups.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by kmspla1952

Quick question please regarding homes that abut a preserve within the Villages.

Can a preserve be sold to a developer and homes built?

We currently live in a Village that had "farm land" (cows, horses, etc) nearby and now we have a Walmart Market Place, 2,200 homes being built and low-income apartments expanding.

I get the "buyer beware", "do your due diligence", "look before you leap" and all that. My question is: Can preserve land be sold?

Thank you.

If a wildlife preserve is truly designed as a wetland then it can’t be built on. These preserves are part of the storm water management system and are highly regulated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The wetlands are owned and maintained by the Districts and access to the wetlands for maintenance is limited to a small buffer area inside the fences. We have one in our backyard and the variety of wildlife we have witnessed over the years is amazing. Unlike land zoned as agricultural, which is subject to zoning changes, land designated as wetlands is protected. Below is a picture of the beautiful sunset we see over the preserve behind our home : )

[asianthree]

The fare warning was always since we arrived in 2007 never buy a house that backs up to farm, open field, or pasture that’s used for cows.

Because eventually that can be buildable land that not only the developer but anyone that buys the property.

We live on a preserve, that has a wall with a 10 foot drop. The preserve behind our house has some dry areas, and then turns into wet areas, finally actual standing water.

If developer could build houses on the Prairie, they would’ve done it during the building of Richmond. But the wetlands or preserves or depending on where you come from swamp, is a protected area and no amount of money could have changed it from a preserve to buildable lots. Because if it was a possibility it would have already been done

Flood zones can eventually be changed to allow for building. Just because today a 100 year flood zone, behind your property, In 10 year or so it may be rezoned.