The Lake County Animal Shelter is once again participating in NBCUniversal Local’s Clear the Shelters campaign, a national pet adoption and donation initiative running Aug. 1-31. To celebrate the monthlong adoption event, adoption fees will be waived for all pets at the shelter throughout August.

“Our goal is to find homes for as many pets as possible this August,” said Whitney Boylston, director of the Lake County Animal Shelter. “If you’re not able to adopt, you can still make a difference by sharing our adoptable pets, volunteering, fostering, or donating.”

Last year, the shelter helped 359 pets find homes during the campaign. Our goal this year is to exceed that number, and we need the community’s help to match homeless pets with loving families.

At the Lake County Animal Shelter, every adoption includes:

•         Spay or Neuter Surgery
•         Initial vaccinations
•         Microchip
•         Personalized ID tag

To view adoptable pets, learn about upcoming events, or find ways to get involved, visit lakecountyfl.gov/animal-shelter or stop by the Lake County Animal Shelter (12280 County Road 448, Tavares)

The post Lake County Animal Shelter Participates in “Clear the Shelters” Adoption Event (August 1-31) appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Panther Run, the largest development within Lake County’s Wellness Way corridor, will transform one of the region’s most significant land acquisitions into a mixed-use community while preserving nearly three-quarters of the property as permanent open space.

The property, purchased by Fort Lauderdale-based GT USA for $165 million in September 2024, represents the largest land sale in Lake County history.

The development is expected to become a major employment center for South Lake County, featuring more than one million square feet of commercial and employment space capable of supporting more than 3,000 jobs.

County officials anticipate the project will attract employers in sectors including healthcare, finance, technology, research and development, advanced manufacturing, hospitality and tourism. The community also includes tourist-home accommodations projected to generate approximately $6 million annually in tourist development tax revenue. According to Doug Bruk, COO of GT USA, Pulte Homes is under contract to purchase some of the property for a Tourist Home community.

“We appreciate this opportunity to partner with Lake County on the execution of this portion of Wellness Way, where GT USA has designed a site with the stakeholders’ needs in mind,” said Bruk. “Our priorities include employment opportunities, improved roadways, expansive open spaces and a wildlife corridor that will benefit residents throughout Lake County.”  Bruk said the company is also working with Lake County on plans for a proposed public safety complex and a new high school to serve the area’s growing population.

A defining feature of Panther Run is its commitment to environmental preservation. Approximately 72.5 percent of the 2,241-acre property will remain undeveloped, encompassing lakes, wetlands, uplands, conservation areas and more than two square miles of protected open space.

The development will include a wildlife corridor designed to close a critical gap in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, supporting wildlife movement between North and South Florida. A two-mile nature trail will provide public access through portions of the preserved landscape.

Developers note that, despite the project’s name, Florida panthers do not inhabit the property. The name “Panther Run” was chosen to reflect the community’s emphasis on conservation and environmental stewardship.

Residential development will occupy approximately 16 percent of the site, with about 2,600 homes planned under Lake County’s Wellness Way Comprehensive Plan first adopted in 2016. The neighborhoods are designed to accommodate a range of residents, from first-time homebuyers to working professionals and retirees.

The community plan includes:

• More than 11 miles of walking, jogging and cycling trails.
• Twenty neighborhood parks.
• Low-density residential neighborhoods integrated with preserved natural areas.
• Extensive open space promoting outdoor recreation and healthy lifestyles.

Infrastructure improvements are expected to provide significant traffic relief for South Lake County.

More than four miles of new roadway will extend County Road 455 and create a direct connection to State Road 516, improving access throughout the Wellness Way corridor while reducing congestion in south Clermont and surrounding Sawgrass Bay neighborhoods.

Project representatives emphasized that Panther Run is consistent with Lake County’s long-term planning objectives and does not require amendments to the county’s Comprehensive Plan.

“The county provided the vision for Wellness Way in its Comprehensive Plan, first approved in 2016,” said Tara Tedrow, a land-use attorney with Orlando-based Lowndes, which represents the project. “The Panther Run plan meets, and in some cases exceeds, the county’s requirements. We are not seeking amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, only the planned unit development approval required under county policy.”

In addition to residential and employment uses, Panther Run reserves land for future public facilities, including:

• A proposed high school serving South Lake County.
• An eight-acre public safety complex with a fire station and sheriff’s substation.
• Expanded roadway infrastructure supporting regional growth.

Looking Ahead: GT USA expects construction on Panther Run to begin during the first quarter of 2027. The company will host a public open house on August 10 from 5 to 7 pm at the Clermont Arts and Recreation Center, where residents can learn more about the proposed development and its plans for the Wellness Way corridor.

As the largest project within Lake County’s Wellness Way initiative, Panther Run is positioned to become a model for balanced growth—combining job creation, transportation improvements, environmental conservation and thoughtfully planned neighborhoods into a community designed for future generations.

Based on materials prepared by Doris Bloodsworth, New Florida Media

The post Spotlight Shines On Wellness Way: The Vision Moves Forward As Panther Run Master-Planned Community Unveils Development Plans appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

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• United States Senator –  Ashley Moody
  
• Representative In Congress District 6 – Randy Fine
  
• Representative In Congress District 11 – Carey Baker
  
• Governor and Lieutenant Governor – Byron Donalds
  
• Attorney General – James Uthmeier
  
• Chief Financial Officer  – Blaise Ingoglia
  
• Commissioner of Agriculture – Wilton Simpson
  
• State Representative District 25 – Taylor Yarkosky
  
• State Representative District 26 – Nan Cobb
  
• State Representative District 27 – Richard Gentry
  
• Board of County Commissioners District 2 – Sean Parks
  
• Board of County Commissioners District 4 – Leslie Campione
  
• North Lake County Hospital District Board of Trustees (Northeast Territory, Seat 2) – Reginald A. Ward
  
• North Lake County Hospital District Board of Trustees (Northwest Territory, Seat 4) –  Ricky Harper
  
• Circuit Judge, 5th Judicial Circuit Group 27 – Nicole M. Morris
  
• School Board District 1 – Pat Kelley
  
• Clermont City Council Seat 3 (Mayor) – Tim Murry
  
• Clermont City Council Seat 5  – William “Bill” Petersen
  
• Groveland City Council District 1 (Mayor) – Keith “Chef” Keogh 
• Groveland City Council District 3 – Barbara Gaines
  
• Groveland City Council District 5 – Amy Jo Carroll
  
• Lake County School Board Resolution 2026-02 – Yes

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