June 30, 2025
Massive Commercial Development Raises Concerns Over Traffic, Environmental Impact
By Kyle Coppola
Massive Commercial Development Raises Concerns Over Traffic, Environmental Impact
A massive new commercial and residential development planned for the intersection of U.S. Highway 27/441 and Lake Ella Road has sparked concern among residents over increased traffic and the destruction of natural green space.
(The section in red is all trees which will be destroyed if the project is greenlit. The public is very concerned about that. Photo Credit – Maury L. Carter & Associates, Inc.)
The project, marketed by Maury L. Carter & Associates, calls for a 145-acre subdivision known as the Enclave at Lake Geneva, with an additional 45-acre parcel recently acquired to the south of Lake Ella Road and north of Spring Lake Road. If approved, the development would bring a total of 542 homes and 100,000 square feet of commercial space to this growing Lake County city.
(Lake Geneva would be completely transformed with lake front property, a bridge, and high density cookie-cutter styled homes which will transform the look of this area of Fruitland Park.)
The proposal, which will go before the Fruitland Park City Commission in July or August, includes a 48,858-square-foot grocery store, restaurant and retail space, and expansive parking areas. The commercial section would be built near the existing 7-Eleven gas station, just behind Phillips Buick GMC.
However, some residents are voicing strong opposition to the plan, pointing to the environmental cost and infrastructure strain. The development site, currently a densely wooded area that serves as a habitat for local wildlife, would be cleared to make way for homes ranging from 1,500 to 2,500 square feet.
(Some of the major developments going in around the area. Note the Future Planned Residential Development in Red. Photo Credit – Maury L. Carter & Associates, Inc.)
Traffic is also a top concern. Lake Ella Road is a narrow, single-lane roadway that already experiences heavy usage from trucks and large SUVs. Nearby corridors like Rolling Acres Road and Micro Racetrack Road are similarly constrained, raising fears about safety, particularly in the absence of traffic lights or road-widening plans.
More homes mean more cars, and right now many feel that the roadways are not equipped for that amount of traffic. It’s not just congestion, it’s the real risk of accidents on roads that aren’t built to handle this kind of volume.
(Note the massive amount of trees that occupy this area which would be destroyed to make way for the development. Photo Credit – Google Maps.)
Despite the concerns, developers are optimistic about the site’s potential. In marketing materials, Maury L. Carter & Associates described the area as “a high-traffic corridor” with “excellent visibility and access,” noting its proximity to new neighborhoods and ongoing commercial growth.
City officials have not yet taken a formal vote on the project. Public input will be considered as part of the review process this summer. If you’re against the project, you can voice your concerns at some upcoming meetings.
July 10th, 2025 – 6pm – 9pm
August 14th, 2025 – 6pm – 9pm
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
