The Leesburg City Planning Commission voted to deny on Oct. 23, 2025, a rezoning request for Banning Ranch Phase 5 (PUD-25-1285), which proposed 294 single-family detached homes on about 103 acres. The motion to deny passed on a roll-call vote with four votes in favor and one opposed.

Planning staff presented the proposal as an amendment to an earlier PUD and said the project would reduce a prior approval of 300 units to 294 and eliminate the previously approved commercial space. Staff described required design standards, buffers, a 35% minimum open-space requirement (the applicant proposed about 41.6% open space, counting stormwater retention areas), and a required 1.35 acres of recreation space (calculated at 200 square feet per unit) that would include a clubhouse and pool and two additional amenities.

Developer representatives—Ben Snyder and Tony Iorio of Hanover Homes—and consultant Andrew McCown of GAI Consultants presented a plan calling for two phases of 147 units each, a mix of 50-foot and 60-foot lot widths, minimum home sizes of roughly 1,600–1,700 square feet, and interconnection of roads between County Road 48 and County Road 33. A traffic consultant for the applicant explained the capacity analysis used Lake County’s capacity numbers and projected that, with approved projects included, the roads would not exceed the county-determined capacity by 2031. The consultant described an example capacity number of 900 vehicles per hour for a roadway segment and walked the commission through how the project’s trips fit into that framework.

Commissioners and members of the public raised multiple concerns. Commissioners questioned the project’s density and whether the applicant’s open-space percentage was overstated because stormwater retention ponds are counted as open space under current code. Several commissioners and speakers said the park and amenity provision (one pool and limited park acres) would be insufficient for nearly 300 homes. Commissioners also voiced worries about traffic increases on County Road 48 and the downstream effects on U.S. 27 and travel into central Leesburg; staff noted that developers are often required to fund needed road improvements and that Lake County and FDOT requirements would apply.

At roll call on the motion to deny PUD-25-1285, Commissioners Barbasoff, Sean Robertson, Cindy Olney and O'Kelvin voted to deny; Commissioner Sanders voted against denial. The motion therefore passed 4–1 and the rezoning request was rejected by the Planning Commission and will not be forwarded as a recommendation to the City Commission.

Staff noted other administrative details: the project is outside the City of Leesburg electric service area; the Lake County School Board indicated the development would be subject to a school-mitigation agreement; the proposal includes a 48-month commencement clause that would revert the zoning to RE-1 if not substantially commenced; and signs were posted on Oct. 10, 2025. Applicants asked for a small technical change to reduce proposed lot depth from 125 feet in a draft ordinance to 120 feet for flexibility; the commission discussed but denied the rezoning.

The denial keeps the site under its existing zoning; applicants may revise and return in a future filing.