GT USA, the developer of the nearly 2,400-acre Panther Run community in the Wellness Way corridor, submitted a PUD application for a significantly revised master plan. Based on county feedback, the developer pivoted from a high-density residential concept to a focus on tourism and job creation for the region.
The new plan centers on a major resort district just minutes from Disney, entitled for two hotels totaling 1,200 rooms, a conference center, and supporting commercial uses. It also earmarks 200 acres for a resort residential community, allowing up to 1,000 vacation homes for short-term rentals. In total, the project now calls for 1.5 million square feet of mixed-use commercial and office space.
The county strongly supports these uses, having recently made Wellness Way a strategic corridor eligible for enhanced economic development incentives. These incentives include property tax waivers for up to 12 years for employers creating high-paying jobs, and grants to attract high-quality hotels. The plan also contains a residential component with 1,931 homesites, including an active adult community, with deals already in place with major national homebuilders.
This residential development will be split between a Neighborhood District and a Conservation Subdivision, with a focus on conservation easements and public recreational trails. GT USA expects the zoning to be finally approved in mid-2026; they anticipate construction on major roadways starting a year later, with the first residential units debuting in late 2027 or early 2028.