Live, Work, & Play the Wellness Way

The land now known as Wellness Way was once the heart of a thriving citrus industry that shaped the region for much of the last century. A combination of harsh freezes, devastating diseases, and shifting market forces has led to the decline of the citrus industry across Florida. In fact, the entire state now produces less than half the amount of citrus that Lake County alone did in the 1970s. The economic impact of the loss of this important industry is still felt throughout the area today. 

Recognizing the importance of this land to the community’s past and future, Lake County’s leadership was determined to find a way for it to continue driving the economy, albeit in a new direction. Wellness Way is one of four strategic corridors identified as key locations for accommodating growth and creating opportunities for residents to engage in medium- and high-wage work, all while preserving the authentic “real Florida, real close” character of the county.

Wellness Way is a thoughtfully designed community that seamlessly blends housing, job centers, and conservation areas to create a true live-work-play experience. Each neighborhood is required to offer a mix of housing options, as well as spaces for businesses to thrive. 

The Wellness Way plan specifically speaks to the expected jobs-to-housing ratio. Neighborhoods are designed around walkability with neighborhood centers and parks creating a sense of place in each community. The interconnected network of wellness and green corridors function to preserve essential habitats for wildlife while also promoting both active and passive recreation. Enhanced eco-friendly landscaping,   community lighting, high quality design standards, and a multi-modal transportation network all contribute to making Wellness Way such a special place. 

An MSTU, or Municipal Service Taxing Unit, is a funding mechanism for communities to create a special taxing district in order to fund specific improvements and upgrades within the community.  MSTUs are created by ordinance and defined by specific boundaries where specific services or enhancements are provided. 

In the case of Wellness Way, the MSTU funds the enhanced design standards for the regional roadway network that are above and beyond the level of service generally provided in unincorporated areas of the county. It can also fund enhanced design elements such as pavers, trails, and sidewalks. 

The Design Standards apply to the Wellness Way Regional Roadway Network:

• Wellness Way from US 27 to the Orange County Line
• Hancock Road from Hartwood Marsh Road to Wellness Way
• Schofield Road from Wellness Way to the Orange County Line
  • County Road 455 from Hartwood Marsh Road to Sawgrass Bay Boulevard

The Design Standards are not intended to be applicable to the Neighborhood Street System as defined in the adopted Wellness Way Community Design Guidelines and Standards.

The goal of Wellness Way is to create a truly special and unique place in South Lake County, and the MSTU is one of the ways that to accomplish this. To learn more about the Wellness Way MSTU and review the ordinances, please visit: Link to MSTU Ordinance(s) – Lake and Clermont.

Utilities are provided by a number of partners including:

• Sunshine Water
• The City of Clermont Utility Department
• Duke Energy

Wellness Way is built around the concept of true connection – connection to the land, to the road system, and to the community. At the heart of this vision is an extensive trail system. The trails not only provide a way for residents to engage with their natural surroundings but also foster a sense of unity and accessibility, encouraging people to connect with one another and embrace a lifestyle focused on wellness. When completed, the Wellness Way trail system will connect to other trails throughout the county and the state. 

Wellness Way is designed as a dynamic live, work, play community that fosters economic growth by attracting businesses in potential key industries such as healthcare, technology, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing. By developing a strong commercial and employment hub, Wellness Way will reduce the need for residents to commute outside of Lake County—where currently 70% of workers leave the county for jobs. In time, this shift will not provide more local jobs and alleviate traffic but also expand the commercial tax base, reducing the reliance on residential property taxes while enhancing infrastructure, public services, and quality of life.