Developers present Harbor Club Phase 4 concept; commissioners ask for density, environmental and traffic details

Fairwind Development representatives and Lakeland Resort presented a conceptual plan for Phase 4 of the Harbor Club residential development and an adjacent townhome area at a Planning Commission concept-review session.

Rick Sert, speaking for Fairwind Development, described two main components: an 18.8-acre single-family area (Phase 4) and an approximately 8.75-acre area proposed for up to 60 townhome units. Sert provided gross-density estimates the project team calculated: roughly 1.96 dwelling units per acre for the single-family area and about 6.87 dwelling units per acre for the townhome area. He said the lakefront 75-foot buffer is not included in the developable area and that the resort would retain and maintain the 75-foot lakefront buffer, consistent with earlier phases.

Developer and resort presenters said extensive pre-application work has been completed, including soil testing, archeological reconnaissance in the project area, preliminary stormwater planning that emphasizes groundwater recharge and rain gardens (rather than detention ponds), and fire-truck circulation checks for road design. The team said the project would provide a regional lift station to serve the area and emphasized that the proposal does not increase the number of marina boat slips.

Commissioners raised several topics for follow-up: confirmation of present zoning for the affected parcels, whether the proposed buildable areas encroach on the Primary Environmental Corridor (staff and developer said the 75-foot buffer and buildable areas are set back from the corridor), the conceptual impact on the golf course (developers said the redesign would maintain 18 holes but reconfigure two 9-hole plays for circulation), traffic and access (staff noted a long-range plan for signalized improvements at Highway 50 and an MOU with DOT regarding future improvements), and neighborhood/street-scape continuity with earlier Harbor Club phases. Staff advised the commission that a comprehensive-plan amendment and a plan-development amendment are required before any rezoning or precise plan approvals; staff said those procedural steps and public hearings will be scheduled and that multiple concept iterations are common.

No final approvals or rezoning votes were taken — the item was a concept review and public discussion. Developers said, sales permitting, earthwork could begin late 2025 with road paving in 2026, but they emphasized the schedule is sales- and approvals-dependent.