Leesburg approves annexation and PUD rezoning for 596-acre Oak Ridge development allowing up to 910 homes
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Summary
The Leesburg City Commission approved annexation, a comp-plan change and rezoning to a Planned Unit Development for the Oak Ridge project — a roughly 596-acre site proposing 910 single-family units — after staff and the developer described open space, amenities and required intersection coordination with Lake County.
The Leesburg City Commission on Nov. 10 approved three ordinances to annex about 596.29 acres and rezone the property to a City of Leesburg Planned Unit Development (PUD) that would allow up to 910 single-family attached and detached homes.
Dan Miller, planning and zoning staff, told the commission the Oak Ridge site would be split into 642 detached single-family homes and 268 villa (duplex) units, include at least 35% open space, a 25-foot landscape buffer along site boundaries, sidewalks and a 4.18-acre recreation area with a pool, cabana, playground and dog park. Miller said the ordinance includes a phasing/expiration clause requiring substantial commencement within four years or the property would revert to a one-acre-per-unit zoning standard.
Developer representative Logan Opsal said the project adds recreational trails, creates and expands wetlands to support stormwater management and dedicates utility service to City of Leesburg water and wastewater. Opsal said the development team and county are coordinating signal warrant studies and funding for improvements at the nearby County Road 48/33 intersection.
Commissioners pressed developers and staff about cumulative traffic in the corridor. One commissioner urged the commission to “consider not putting any more traffic on that intersection until it is completely redone,” noting the area has seen multiple large approvals. County Commissioner Tim Morris told the meeting he is requesting the county hire an independent traffic study “to get it out of the developer’s hands.”
There were no public speakers on the Oak Ridge items. The commission carried the readings and approved the annexation, comprehensive-plan amendment and rezoning by roll-call votes on first/second-reading as recorded by the clerk.
Next steps: staff will proceed with the ordinances as approved; the project will require coordination with Lake County for County Road 48 improvements and future permitting and construction phases.
