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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Sumter commissioners bless Villages’ plan for industrial complex despite concerns from neighbors

Sumter County commissioners gave their approval Tuesday night for a massive industrial complex that will be built by The Villages.

The 30-year agreement allows The Villages Land Company to build the complex on 430.8 acres south of Coleman. It could include up to 1.75 million square feet of industrial use and 18,000 square feet of commercial/office space on the property. The maximum height on buildings would be 100 feet.

Planned Villages industrial complex south of Coleman.

The commission first heard for the request for the Chapter 163 development agreement between the county and The Villages Land Company two weeks ago. At the time, they made it clear that they were in favor of moving forward with the complex, calling it a boon for Sumter County.

A Chapter 163 agreement basically establishes the legal boundaries for the project, makes sure permitted uses allowed are shown to be consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan and development regulations, includes a transportation analysis showing that no impacts are anticipated, provides requirements for review of the project and design criteria, establishes the county’s land development regulations and sets up the 30-year term for the agreement.

Commissioners also had agreed to rezone the land for the proposed complex to Planned Industrial from its current designations of residential and industrial. That approval hinged on the commission voting in favor of the project Tuesday night.

The industrial complex will be located on the east side of County Road 476B, about 200 feet south of County Road 476. It will be between Interstate 75 and the CSX railroad tracks on a piece of land south of Coleman that was formerly known as the Wade property.

The complex will include a mixture of industrial, commercial and office uses, according to a memo from Marty Dzuro of The Villages. A traffic impact analysis shows that the roads around the complex are sufficient to support the venture, which also has been reviewed by Sumter County Engineering Division and provided to the Florida Department of Transportation for informational purposes.

The main entry into the complex will be from County Road 525E, which provides access to U.S. 301 and a proposed I-75 interchange at County Road 514. All of the roads into and in the complex will be paved and meet county standards, Dzuro’s memo states.

South Sumter Utility Company will provide sanitary and waste water services during and after completion of the development, a letter from Trey Arnett, an authorized agent of the utility, states.

Four property owners within 500 feet of the outside perimeter of the proposed complex weighed in on the project after the county’s Development Services Department sent out notices.

One wrote back complaining that it will decrease the value of homes in the adjoining community and he’d rather see houses built on the property. Another said it would have a negative impact on the neighborhood. A third property owner was in favor of the industrial complex and a fourth asked to be kept informed of future changes regarding the project and how it will impact the community and environment.

Commissioner Doug Gilpin has been a big supporter of the industrial complex and pointed out at the last commission meeting that The Villages is known as a very successful and responsible organization.

“I’m very comfortable that every rule and regulation – state, federal and local – will be followed,” he said. “We’ve waited many, many years to have industrial/commercial development and this is our time.”