LEESBURG, Fla. — The Villages, the world's largest retirement community, is looking to expand its reach into the city of Leesburg.
- The Villages wants to build development west of Leesburg
- It wanted Leesburg to annex 1,200 acres so it can build on it
- Some locals oppose development on farm and pasture land
City leaders met Tuesday night to decide on several ordinance requests made by The Villages Land Company that would be the development's farthest expansion south.
The land in question is near County Road 48 and Austin Merritt Road. It's about 1,200 acres of farm and pasture land.
Some of the property is in Lake County. The Villages Land Company was asking the city of Leesburg to annex all of it, and then change the zoning so it can start building.
Neighbors in the area say they will lose their rural lifestyle.
"This is peace and quiet and tranquility, of a lifestyle that what they call Florida 'cracker' style," said Keith Tinsely, who builds rural homes just miles away from where The Villages wants to expand.
Leesburg leaders voted unanimously 5-0 in favor of The Villages' ordinance requests.