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Residents press county and Leesburg for safer access on Treasure Trove development off County Road 44
Summary
Residents and commissioners discussed driveway connection permits and safety for a proposed 110‑lot Treasure Trove development that will access County Road 44; staff said developer moved access away from a critical curve but city and county permits remain pending.
Residents and county commissioners pressed for action on road‑access and safety concerns tied to a proposed 110‑lot development (Treasure Trove) that will connect to County Road 44 in south Lake County.
Resident Lisa Hayden told the board that nearby construction will bring roughly 2,000 new homes along a narrow corridor and urged the county to push the City of Leesburg and the developer to avoid direct driveway access to Treasure Trove. “We have 2,100, or or so houses… most of them are directly accessing County Road 44,” she said, and asked the board to send a letter to Leesburg asking that driveway permits not be issued until safety improvements are made.
Staff response and technical details: Jeff Earhart, Engineering Director, said the developer revised plans and that the primary access will be on County Road 44, with only emergency access to East Treasure Trove Avenue. He said county staff moved the connection as far away on the property as allowed given existing constraints, including a very large electrical transmission pole that would be costly to relocate. Earhart said the developer is dedicating right‑of‑way at the intersection so future intersection modifications, such as signalization or alignment changes, could be made.
Permitting constraints: Staff noted that issuance of a county driveway connection permit is largely ministerial if the design meets the county’s Transportation Planning, Design and Construction Standards; if the plans conform, staff must issue the permit. Staff also said that if neither access point can meet standards, the applicant could seek a variance or other mechanism because denying a lawful access outright can create legal exposure.
Board direction and next steps: Commissioners asked staff to check the development order and confirm whether the city’s approvals or St. Johns Water Management District processes could affect timing. The board directed Engineering staff to work with county planners and the city of Leesburg on concerns; staff said they have not yet issued a driveway connection permit and would continue coordination. Commissioner discussion included whether a future roundabout might be feasible and whether a signal would be warranted once development traffic volumes increase.
Why it matters: Residents argued that immediate access from County Road 44 without intersection improvements could create safety hazards given traffic speeds and nearby curves; staff said future intersection improvements are possible but constrained by existing utilities and right‑of‑way costs.
