The City of Leesburg Planning Commission on July 31 recommended approval of a planned development overlay (PDO) to allow two duplex units on two lots at Vista Avenue north of U.S. 441, forwarding the case to the City Commission for final action. Planning and Zoning Director Dan Miller recommended approval and explained staff’s finding that a PDO was appropriate despite the property’s C‑3 Highway Commercial zoning. "The PDO is a very useful tool and we shouldn't require a 5‑acre minimum on this," Miller told commissioners.\n\nThe recommendation matters because the PDO would permit residential duplexes on approximately 0.48 acres that are currently zoned for highway commercial uses. The planning staff said the overlay would avoid a potential spot zoning while remaining consistent with the comprehensive plan. Melissa Medders de Los Santos, planner, presented maps and photo exhibits showing the subject properties, surrounding zoning and future land uses, and confirmed there are no flood zones or wetlands on the parcels.\n\nDuring staff review, the city received one written comment from a neighbor who expressed concerns; staff responded and added a condition requiring a fence around the side and rear yards. "Due to the fact that the neighbor did make a request and we thought it was a good idea," Miller said when describing the added fence condition. The amended PDO would also include a waiver from section 25.280, which currently sets a five‑acre PDO minimum; staff said they plan to pursue a code change to remove that threshold.\n\nStaff notified city departments, Lake County and the school board; city departments and the school board returned no substantive comments. The staff recommendation listed compatibility with surrounding City of Leesburg C‑3 and R‑P zoning and the comprehensive plan as reasons to approve. The applicant was not present at the hearing; staff reported the applicant, identified in the record as John Wannberg, had been contacted and was satisfied with the conditions.\n\nAfter closing the public hearing with no in‑person testimony, the commission voted on the case. A motion to recommend approval carried on a roll‑call vote; the record shows all voting commissioners voting in the affirmative. The recommendation will be transmitted to the City Commission for a final decision.\n\nIf the City Commission approves the PDO, the overlay would authorize one duplex on each of the two lots, subject to the conditions in the PDO (including the fence requirement) and the waiver of the five‑acre minimum. The project remains subject to any additional requirements applied at the City Commission hearing and to any permits required for building and site work.