https://www.yoursun.com/venice/filling-in-the-details-west-villages
By CRAIG GARRETT Staff Writer May 29, 2020
WEST VILLAGES — The North Port City Commission discussed an array of changes to the West Villages master plan and adopted some this week.
Among the details were a small land annexation to North Port, a place for a hotel/resort at the CoolToday Park baseball complex, a giant school campus, police and fire substations, commercial development along a yet-to-be-built corridor that would someday run to the gulf beaches, and lots of new homes.
A land swap for the school campus, possibly serving K-12 students, would need approval from Sarasota County School Board.
Those talks, adopting of ordinances and first readings of others, map adjustments and other details that would greatly expand West Villages were on Tuesday's City Commission agenda. Again due to COVID-19, the meeting was placed on a video-conferencing platform.
Other issues at the meeting included the locating of a 7-Eleven at Cranberry and West Price boulevards, a software vendor agreement, an economic development feasibility study, appointments and other business. The meeting ran into Wednesday's wee hours.
The topic of growth at West Villages was energized with a clearer picture of its future. A guide or pattern book for its expansion was reviewed and approved by commissioners in April. That move opened the door to moving forward. Many future changes, however, still require commission approval and public feedback.
West Villages, which is rebadged as Wellen Park in June, is set for smart and managed growth, North Port Vice Mayor Jill Luke said.
“These steps are really advancing” West Villages' development, Luke said. “To me, it's a lot closer to reality.”
Among items talked about or changes adopted Tuesday were:
• Annexation into North Port of the 1.6-acre Duke Commercial Center from unincorporated Sarasota County. Its future was not clear, however.
• Large land swaps for proposed school sites on a yet-developed corridor — Manasota Beach Road and River Road — linking North Port to the north end of Englewood and Manasota Key.
• A hotel at CoolToday Park, the Atlanta Braves spring training complex within the West Villages Improvement District.
• Public safety substations serving the new communities.
• Amending boundaries or adding land to Villages F and G, also modifying rights of way for roads within West Villages.
North Port, at the request of its previous owner, annexed much of the former Taylor Ranch in 2002, and that has since become the fast-growing colossus of West Villages.
Inside North Port boundaries, for instance, some 4,500 West Villages homes have been built. There will be more than 21,000 at build-out, which would add some 50,000 residents to North Port and South Sarasota County.
Other communities inside West Villages include Oasis, Renaissance, The Preserve and Gran Paradiso. CoolToday Park is also inside the district.
The broader Wellen Park marketing area includes the Sarasota National, Grand Palm and Boca Royale communities.
Luke said past overviews had been from the overlook of “30,000 feet. Now we're seeing accurate and detailed plans much closer to the ground. It's very exciting.”
Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate
REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964
19503 S West Villages Pkwy
