Commission transmits Leatherleaf annexation and rezoning despite planning commission denial and traffic concerns

The Leesburg City Commission voted to transmit a proposed annexation, comprehensive plan amendment and planned unit development (PUD) rezoning for a 77.5-acre property known as the Leatherleaf project to reviewing agencies, moving the application forward despite earlier denial by the city’s planning commission.

Planning and zoning staff described the proposal as an annexation of approximately 77.5 acres (south of County Road 33, west of U.S. 27 and north of County Road 48) and a request to change the future land use from Lake County Regional Commercial to City of Leesburg General Commercial. The rezoning request would change the parcel from Lake County Agriculture to City of Leesburg PUD to allow 235 detached single-family homes, 48 paired villas (duplexes) and about 120,000 square feet of commercial uses including medical office, general office and retail.

Dan Miller, planning and zoning staff, said the project proposes single-family lot widths of roughly 50–60 feet, duplex lots of about 60 feet, front setbacks of 25 feet, a two-floor height maximum and 35% of the site preserved as open space. The application includes a 25-foot landscape buffer around the perimeter, dark-sky lighting standards, tree requirements on each lot, sidewalks throughout, and about 6 acres of commercial acreage fronting County Road 48. The PUD also includes a phasing/expiration clause requiring substantial commencement within 48 months or the site would revert to county-style density (roughly 1 unit per acre) under RE-1 rules.

Lake County Public Works submitted comments requiring left- and right-turn lanes at the project entrances, additional right-of-way, accommodations for the planned West Lake Trail along County Road 48, and more detailed surveys to confirm property lines. Commissioners raised traffic and access concerns: one commissioner said the County Road 48/27 corridor already experiences backups and that the planning commission had recommended denial (4–2) primarily because of roadway width and traffic impacts.

Applicant Mike Rankin of Land Planning Group said he would reserve detailed comments for second reading. Miller noted that staff negotiated density reductions with the applicant from an earlier, higher density proposal and that fully residential development would yield only about 18 additional units compared with the current PUD request.

Commission discussion included proposals from at least one commissioner to deny annexation outright, citing the stretch of County Road 48 as “beyond bad.” The commission ultimately voted to transmit the large-scale comprehensive plan amendment and related ordinances to reviewing agencies by roll call. The recorded vote on the motion to transmit was: Commissioner Peterson — yes; Commissioner Burry — yes; Commissioner Conell — no; Commissioner Berry — yes; Mayor Mary Reisman — yes (4–1). The ordinances will lay over for second reading at the commission’s next meeting (noted by staff as March 24).

The planning commission had previously voted 4–2 to deny the proposal, citing road-width and traffic concerns. Lake County Public Works’ required improvements and the city’s own condition that Haywood Worm Farm Road would become city-maintained with additional right-of-way were highlighted as outstanding technical matters to resolve before final approval.

Because the commission moved only to transmit the plan amendment and rezoning to review agencies, no final annexation or zoning decision was made; next steps will include agency review comments and a second-reading public hearing.