I always find it interesting that people never want to stop new development BEFORE they come to a community…

A municipality needs to stop new building permits when
 

A municipality needs to consider a wide range of infrastructure when determining if it can support new building permits. Here's a breakdown of key areas:

Essential Utilities:

Water Supply and Distribution:
Source capacity (wells, reservoirs, rivers)
Treatment plant capacity
Pumping stations and transmission lines
Local distribution network capacity and pressure
Storage capacity (water towers, tanks)
Wastewater Collection and Treatment:
Sewer line capacity (gravity and force mains)
Lift stations
Wastewater treatment plant capacity and discharge permits
Sludge disposal capacity
Stormwater Management:
Drainage systems (pipes, ditches, swales)
Detention and retention ponds
Flood control measures
Capacity of receiving water bodies
Solid Waste Management:
Collection routes and vehicle capacity
Transfer station capacity (if applicable)
Landfill capacity and lifespan
Waste-to-energy facility capacity (if applicable)
Energy Infrastructure:
Electrical grid capacity (substations, transmission lines, local distribution)
Natural gas pipelines and distribution (if applicable)
Transportation Infrastructure:

Roads and Bridges:
Capacity of existing roadways (traffic volume, level of service)
Intersection capacity and signal timing
Bridge structural integrity and load capacity
Parking availability
Public Transportation:
Capacity of existing bus routes, light rail, or other systems
Availability of park-and-ride facilities
Pedestrian and Bicycle Infrastructure:
Sidewalk availability and condition
Bicycle lanes and paths
Public Safety Infrastructure:

Fire Protection:
Fire station locations and response times
Fire hydrant availability and water pressure
Firefighting equipment and personnel capacity
Police Protection:
Police station locations and response times
Patrol vehicle and personnel capacity
Jail or detention facility capacity
Emergency Medical Services (EMS):
Ambulance availability and response times
Hospital capacity and emergency room services
Social Infrastructure:

Schools:
Classroom capacity at elementary, middle, and high schools
Availability of teachers and support staff
Parks and Recreation:
Acreage of parkland and open space
Capacity of recreational facilities (sports fields, community centers)
Healthcare Facilities:
Capacity of local hospitals, clinics, and doctor's offices
Libraries and Community Centers:
Capacity and resources of these public facilities
Communication Infrastructure:

Broadband Internet:
Availability and capacity of internet service providers
Telecommunications:
Capacity of phone lines and cellular networks
Other Considerations:

Environmental Impact: The capacity of the natural environment to absorb increased pollution, runoff, and habitat loss.
Financial Capacity: The municipality's ability to fund necessary infrastructure upgrades and maintenance to support growth.
Intergovernmental Coordination: The impact of growth on neighboring jurisdictions and the need for regional planning.

When a municipality determines that one or more of these infrastructure components can no longer adequately support additional population or development, it may consider a moratorium on new building permits until those limitations are addressed. This ensures the health, safety, and quality of life for both existing and future residents

Leesburg CAN indeed stop new development... in Leesburg. That's what the new ordinance (if passed) would do. Local control.

If new homes did not sell then more new homes would not be built but to be fair, some of us moved into pre-owned homes which did not add to the sprawl.

About 20 years too late IMO.

They might as well go ahead and amend the agenda to include either tax increases or service cuts. Growth stunts the impact of increases in the cost of providing day-to-day services for the citizens.

Nice post. Of course The Villages is a group of CDD’S which is not unique to Florida (passed in 1986 I think) but likely is very unique in other parts of the U.S. However, parts of our CDD is also within a municipality. The largest is the city of Wildwood currently being build south of 44. Others are Leesburg, Fruitland Park and parts of Lady lake I think. The Villages CDD’S are in three counties. Marion County (the smallest), Lake county, and the largest Sumter county. We have a very unique form of government in The Villages. To learn more, attend one of the CDD district’s information meetings held regularly.

I am not aware of any (or much) regional planning or intergovernmental coordination going on among the various jurisdictions making up The Villages. If not, maybe that would be a good idea.

It’s the “type” of new residents that sunk CA and AZ.

Read post # 13. The measure did not pass.

Read my post more carefully. My point that you missed is that the City CAN limit growth if it wants to. I didn't say it would or would not pass.

It can be brought up again.

It's plain to see that the area around The Villages is becoming over developed. We are losing beautiful farmland and pastures. I wish we could pressure Sumter County, or at least Lady Lake and Fruitland Park to establish the same moratorium.

I can't speak for most people here but we moved to a house in the community, that had been here for over 30 years. Our entire part of the Villages ceased to be "new development" 30 years ago.

And yes I am, and was, 100% against expansion of the Villages, and think it should've stopped before they got as far as 466A.

Nineteen years ago we purchased our first house in The Village of Caroline. There was a waiting list to get a Villa. “We are building down to 466a” better buy now,” said the Developer. Just a couple years later “we building all the way to SR44 better buy now was the sales pitch”.

As long as there is land and money to be made, The villages will continue to expand. There is no other adult retirement community in the U.S. like The villages. “So shall it be written, so shall it be done” Ramses - Yul Brynner the movie Ten Commandments