Planning commission recommends commercial flex-space development on US 27, adds worship and daycare uses

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of a small-scale comprehensive-plan amendment and a rezoning to Small Planned Unit Development for a 7.3-acre site on the west side of U.S. Highway 27 north of University Avenue. The cases (SSCP 25-644 and SPUD 25-645, Legacy Commerce) would change the site’s designation from Lake County Urban Low to City of Leesburg General Commercial and allow up to 50,200 square feet of multiuse office/warehouse (flex) buildings.
Staff said the site is outside the City of Leesburg Electric Service Area, contains shallow marsh wetlands on the southwest corner and that city utilities currently have capacity to serve nonresidential uses. The PUD/SDUD document limits building height to a maximum of two floors or 35 feet and requires landscaping, façade and mechanical screening standards under City Code §25-3-60.
Attorney J.B. Bricklemeyer, representing the applicant, described the project as a flex-space development intended to provide indoor storage, light manufacturing, contractor and trades space, and small-business storage. He estimated a build-out cost on the order of $3–4 million and said the applicant expects to move forward reasonably soon pending financing and City approvals.
Commissioners added “worship” (church) and “day care/private school” to the list of permitted uses to reflect the site’s proximity to residential neighborhoods. Staff said any vehicle access from U.S. 27 will require FDOT approval and that the standard four-year substantial-commencement clause applies; if development does not begin within four years the site would revert to RE-1 zoning.
The commission voted to forward both the small-scale comprehensive-plan amendment and the SPUD rezoning to the City Commission with recommendations of approval. Roll-call votes recorded yes from Commissioners Sanders, Sanjani, Kelly, Ackland, Carter and Kaplan on the small-scale comp plan item, and yes from Commissioners Sandy Holmes, O'Kelly, Ackerman, Carver, Cafflin, Stace and Sanders on the SPUD item.