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Commissioners say they will draft opposition letter after proposed Leesburg annexation raises density concerns
Summary
Lake County staff briefed commissioners on two proposed annexations into the City of Leesburg. One would convert 39 acres of county rural land to a city planned-unit development at roughly 4 dwelling units per acre for 156 units; commissioners agreed to draft a letter expressing concern about the density change.
County staff on June 3 briefed Lake County commissioners on two proposed annexations into the City of Leesburg and the board agreed to prepare a letter questioning a proposed density increase on one of the parcels.
Planning staff described the first annexation as a roughly 39-acre parcel north of East Dewey Robbins Road that currently carries the county's rural future land-use designation (about one dwelling unit per five net acres). The City of Leesburg proposal would redesignate the site as a planned unit development at about four dwelling units per gross acre, which staff said would result in roughly 156 dwelling units and 35% open space as part of a larger development pattern previously approved by the city.
"Ours is one dwelling unit per five net acres. The proposed city density is four dwelling units per gross acre. It is a considerable increase in density," Mike Fitzgerald, director of planning and zoning, told the board. Commissioners said the change merited further scrutiny and asked staff to draft a letter expressing concerns about the proposed density increase and to pursue intergovernmental discussions with Leesburg planning staff.
A second, smaller annexation of approximately eight acres east of U.S. 27 was described as a planned unit development with a mix of commercial and residential uses; that conversion would, in staff's description, reduce density relative to the county's current urban-low designation for that parcel. Commissioners asked staff to continue regular intergovernmental coordination on both matters.
Commissioners discussed road impacts and whether Dewey Robbins Road was sized to handle additional traffic. Jeff Fairheart, director of engineering, said portions of Dewey Robbins had been improved with impact fees and were designed to handle heavier traffic.
No formal county resolution was adopted at the meeting; commissioners directed staff to prepare correspondence and to meet with Leesburg representatives as part of joint planning and intergovernmental coordination.
