MARION COUNTY, Fla. — A large senior community in Marion County is concerned about traffic if an apartment complex gets built nearby.

Nancy Carp said she is worried the proposed development would add safety and security issues for her senior community, On Top of the World.

“With the apartments (and traffic) coming in and out, we could be backed up all the way through our gate,” she said.

The same company that built On Top of the World wants to build the apartment complex, just outside the community, off Southwest 99th Street Road and State Road 200.

“This is going to be busy with the apartment traffic. Plus, to try and get across the street is going to be nearly impossible,” Carp pointed out at the corner of Southwest 99th Street Road and State Road 200.

She said it is already busy in this area, and an apartment complex won’t help the situation.

That is why she and others in her community are protesting the proposed reclassification of the land to build the apartments from commercial to planned unit development.

“We would like it to stay commercial,” said Carp, “put in a restaurant, put in a couple little retail shops. That’s what we all thought would go here.”

It was expected to be so packed at a public hearing last month that Marion County decided to postpone a vote on the reclassification.

But county staff does recommend reclassifying the property to allow for a 312-unit apartment complex, finding it won’t adversely affect the public interest, including to transportation. A traffic study will still be required.

“If it involves interfering with our lifestyle here, our security, our safety, or puts another financial hardship on us," Carp said. "Yes, we have thought about (moving).”

That rescheduled public hearing during the county’s planning and zoning commission meeting is now set for April 22 at 9 a.m.

Ultimately, it is up to Marion County commissioners to have the final say.

If you’ve got a traffic concern, fill out the form here.