[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6164584,"mediaKeyId","5428065-d26d62ed846bba316d4c57b4fef31037","parentId",5428065,"title","Local Planning Agency tables 66.6-acre Hicks Ditch annexation amid density, wetlands and state moratorium concerns","audioSeconds",1063,"startMs",607000,"endMs",1670000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5428065-d26d62ed846bba316d4c57b4fef31037&start=607&end=1670","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5428065-d26d62ed846bba316d4c57b4fef31037/thumbnail_607000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6164584/Florida/Local-Planning-Agency-tables-666-acre-Hicks-Ditch-annexation-amid-density-wetlands-and-state-moratorium-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164584-82955964c923be6b7f943a3f79ff7883/orig.mp4?Expires=1776184562&Signature=QgMxcTh67lB-mJVOeZMOfP6DNz5IGrgg6kp4JR1IJJIfByTrMesoVoYkyqyxzxsawQVzDwbhiRR5eX4IdNLsHEE5sxI8Tr2x0yHmertPUSvB21hTOul7lsDHzBpCJZ1SFY6sBwLNKWDhcSRFlPFjmcxSra5bKlpPVNU0lq4gj8kCOebr~ZxFIA3J8bxG7MzBk6Qyd3~tCFO99HHlHSd8JtNTJq4chTfpueiLKFVGnM5qz96dE96IwZTNUSACJCia-pgEoo1tXlXvBFH8K2Undz~G4QRnVKcA6YK3B58KRRm9mrxu-8Kqf7p26Cmdn4q~oQqSWnDMLZu3iqrg2grH6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Eustis, FL","date","2025-07-18T10:33:46Z","article","The Local Planning Agency on June 19 voted to table a proposed future-land-use amendment and annexation for 66.55 acres south of County Route 44 and east of Hicks Ditch Road, citing unresolved density questions, wetland and floodplain concerns, and uncertainty created by a recently enacted state moratorium on local land-development-rule amendments.

Staff recommended that the city commission be asked to consider transmitting the applicant’s request (proposed ordinance 25-17) to change the property’s future land use from Lake County urban low (up to 4 dwelling units per acre) to city suburban residential (up to 5 dwelling units per acre). During the discussion, planning staff noted the site has utility availability on the west and north sides, identified multiple wetland areas and potential FEMA 100-year floodplain impacts in parts of the property, and described recharge rates across the site.

Major Stacy, the applicant’s representative, told the agency he and his team have completed a preliminary design and said, \"The current plan right now is 3.5 dwelling units per acre.\" Stacy said the project team intends a single-family subdivision and that the proposed layout is below the 4-dwelling-per-acre county maximum. Stacy also noted on-site low-quality wetland features and a cattle pond that would be affected and described surface-water flows that discharge through twin pipes toward the west.

Agency members repeatedly voiced concern about relying on verbal density assurances without an enforceable agreement at annexation. One member asked whether the city could require a written commitment before annexation; staff replied that conditions or terms are not part of the annexation transmittal process and that any enforceable terms would typically be handled later through a Planned Unit Development (PUD) or agreement. The transcript includes a staff statement that \"we can't put terms and conditions on an annexation,\" and members discussed requesting a formal legal opinion on how a new state law limiting local changes to land-development regulations applies to future projects.

Members also flagged a state legislative moratorium that staff said prevents the city from completing its LDR revisions until Oct. 1, 2027, unless the legislature acts again. That moratorium led members to ask for an opinion from the attorney general and for additional meetings between the applicant and staff. One member recommended that staff (Sasha) reach out to the attorney general for clarification. The applicant offered to meet individually with members and agency staff to address concerns.

After discussion, a motion to table proposed ordinance 25-17 passed by roll call: Vice Chair Ashcraft — Aye; Mister Holland — Aye; Miss Lee — Aye; Mister Aspadi — Aye; Chairman Hawkins — Aye. Staff and applicant representatives were directed to meet, and agency members requested a legal opinion and further clarification before the item returns to the Local Planning Agency or proceeds to the city commission.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Local Planning Agency Meeting - 17 July, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The LPA on June 19 tabled proposed ordinance 25-17 for a 66.55-acre annexation by BLG Ponderosa LLC after members raised questions about density, wetlands, floodplain impact and a recent state moratorium on local development-code amendments.","taxTitle","City of Eustis, Lake County, Florida","taxId",71128,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6164587,"Planning agency transmits 6.1-acre Palmetto Street annexation to city commission",423,40000,463000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5428065-d26d62ed846bba316d4c57b4fef31037&start=40&end=463","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5428065-d26d62ed846bba316d4c57b4fef31037/thumbnail_40000.jpg","/articles/6164587/Florida/Planning-agency-transmits-61-acre-Palmetto-Street-annexation-to-city-commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164587-7d2e905a275224e194525c3819e5865a/orig.mp4?Expires=1776184561&Signature=OKFvmQd-YQHbGQYgjZqDLfJR5CAqxDn0U2ju~wZJ1MtizXuV2OseOLBEn5oVIgEGoWesv5N-TnaLYy8R~xun4WRA9zv3Z7iKDrE5GpejIZywl9H9w7b47L-XZ5MAOtJmQq-mLeMCEBAQfnAAdvS3~Mq-Px22HrQZaCAt2Gz8F7EIt72XHuI2WNi1yYJWEpfv1QaMWV7qsdKL7rgtk4kj~WMwOq~10TRazYRmf8wUpMuaqjRJDnWqeKYeJrrejmemZYhYDBqKc4oAcDkslTfm0encVNGI0ALScIcy7b78EFk01-g3l3g~EkmASjbtQYBl4OSNkev8lej1IBrBGj0ISQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning staff recommended that the Local Planning Agency transmit a future-land-use amendment and annexation for about 6.1 acres east of Palmetto Street and north of Hollywood Avenue to the city commission on June 19, and the agency voted unanimously to do so.

The recommendation would change the properties’ future land use from Lake County urban medium (up to 7 dwelling units per acre) to a city urban residential designation that carries a 12-dwelling-units-per-acre maximum, a shift staff said would match surrounding uses and support residential development. \"This request has been reviewed for future land use ... based on 01/3177 as well as our own comprehensive plan and land development regulations,\" planning staff said during the presentation.

The applicant listed in staff materials is Berglund Land Holdings. Planning staff said the request concerns two parcels that together form roughly 6.1 acres and that the applicant also owns an adjacent parcel fronting Palmetto Street. Staff recommended the city assignment be urban residential rather than a mixed-compact residential (MCR) designation to avoid altering the city’s MCR ratio. Utilities are available to the site from the west; staff described only a minor wetland and 100-year floodplain impact concentrated on a narrow 50–60-foot strip that connects the larger southern parcel to a northern, narrow portion.

Agency members asked about enclave effects and density. Staff described the property as creating additional enclave parcels within the surrounding area and confirmed the site has access points from adjacent streets and private drives. On density, staff noted the county designation allows up to seven units per acre and the proposed city urban-residential designation allows up to 12; staff did not have a finalized development plan from the applicant and said the specific housing type (single-family detached versus townhomes) had not been finalized.

The Local Planning Agency voted to transmit the proposed ordinance (25-14) to the city commission for consideration. The roll call recorded Vice Chair Ashcraft — Aye; Mister Holland — Aye; Miss Lee — Aye; Mister Osbodie — Aye; and Chairman Hawkins — Aye.

The transmittal advances the future-land-use assignment to the city commission; it does not itself annex the parcels or approve detailed development plans. The agency record shows wetlands and a small area of floodplain on the narrow connecting strip, and staff noted any final development would require further study and permitting for those features.","The Local Planning Agency unanimously voted June 19 to transmit a proposed future-land-use amendment and annexation (ordinance 25-14) for roughly 6.1 acres east of Palmetto Street and north of Hollywood Avenue, recommending the city assign an urban residential designation.","actionData","errors"]

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Local Planning Agency tables 66.6-acre Hicks Ditch annexation amid density, wetlands and state moratorium concerns

Planning agency transmits 6.1-acre Palmetto Street annexation to city commission