City of Wildwood to give closer look at proposed developments' wastewater treatment needs

WILDWOOD – The city will be taking an especially close look at future proposed developments to make sure they do not exceed its wastewater treatment capabilities.

It will not affect The Villages, which has blown the doors off the old city limits sign and turned pastures into pickleball courts. The mega retirement community has its own treatment plants.

Nor will it impact projects already approved. City Manager Jason McHugh told city commissioners that “new comprehensive plan amendment applications will be subject to delays,” according to a Monday press release.

“We don’t have a list,” said Melanie Strickland, director of development and servicing. Nor is there a “magic number,” she told the Daily Commercial.

The city is increasing its capacity in phases with the goal of 5.5 million gallons per day in 2027.

The Villages march from Wildwood to the Leesburg city limits has exceeded all expectations, Strickland said. The Villages also includes part of Marion County.

Villages expand: The Villages starts building thousands of homes on land it bought from Leesburg in 2018

Strickland told the Daily Commercial in January that of the 60,449 units entitled by The Villages south of State Road 44, roughly 17,000 have been constructed or are currently under construction. Approximately, 14,700 have been sold or occupied.

The development has approval in place for about 7.7 million square feet of commercial and office space, and 222,000 square feet of office government uses.

That growth has attracted businesses and other developments wanting to snuggle up next to the mega retirement community.

“They’ve got to go shopping somewhere,” she said.

Strickland has seen dramatic changes since she started working with the city 22 years ago. Teachers in schools were warning graduates to expect to find jobs anywhere but Sumter County. And she has witnessed the effects of the pandemic and a recession. Now, there is inflation and high interest rates.

“I keep hearing that it will be slowing down, but it’s not yet,” she said. Nor has she heard about people rushing to unload property or seek new entitlements.

“We get three to five inquiries a week. That’s a lot,” she said.

McHugh praised city commissioners for taking a long view.

“Wildwood prides itself on its level of service in all areas,” McHugh said. “As the city grows, it is essential we manage our growth in a way that does not compromise that service.”

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: New developments in Wildwood to have wastewater treatment needs looked at closer