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Council approves first readings to reconfigure 139 N. Ridgewood Drive from residential to downtown commercial PUD
Summary
On first readings the Sebring City Council approved ordinance 15-65 (future land use amendment) and ordinance 15-66 (PUD amendment) to allow roughly 7,007 sq. ft. of retail/commercial space at 139 N. Ridgewood Drive; the council also approved terminating the prior development agreement to prepare for a new agreement with the incoming developer, Ken LeBlanc.
The Sebring City Council on Dec. 2 approved on first reading two linked ordinances that would change the future land use and amend the Planned Unit Development for 139 North Ridgewood Drive, moving the parcel from a high-density mixed-use designation toward a downtown mixed-use PUD that emphasizes commercial uses.
Stephanie Von Poleski Bush of the Central Florida Regional Planning Council presented the proposals. She said the parcel is about 0.43 acres, is in the historic overlay district, and currently carries a high-density mixed-use designation that had allowed residential densities up to 117 dwelling units per acre and up to 25% nonresidential uses. The proposed future land use designation would match surrounding downtown mixed-use areas and would allow residential densities up to 40 units per acre and a broader set of retail, institutional and office uses.
Ordinance 15-65 would remove the site's site-specific language (including a prior maximum floor area ratio of 6 and a 60-foot height allowance for up to 25% of the project) so the parcel would conform to downtown mixed-use standards. Ordinance 15-66 would amend the existing PUD to allow approximately 7,007 square feet of commercial/retail space (the previously approved development authorized 50 dwelling units and about 4,200 square feet of commercial).
Design and permitting conditions were described: the PUD includes a maximum building height provision (50 feet in the PUD conditions), a maximum floor area ratio of 1, a requirement for an approved Environmental Resource Permit from the Southwest Florida Water Management District for stormwater facilities, a developer's agreement, and FDOT approval for any access to State Road 17.
Developer Ken LeBlanc (Exurban Construction) described the design intent: a plaza that connects to the adjacent park, and space for food trucks and an Airstream to preserve leasable retail without building directly to the sidewalk. LeBlanc said engineering plans were dropped off the day of the meeting and architectural plans are in process.
The council voted to approve both ordinances on first reading and scheduled second and final readings for Dec. 16, 2025. Council also approved an ordinance terminating the prior development agreement with the prior developer (transcript shows mixed spelling: "Short Hands"/"Short Pants" Development LLC) to clear the way for a new agreement with the incoming developer.
Next steps set by the council: staff will continue required permitting steps (including any environmental or FDOT approvals) and prepare a developer agreement consistent with the PUD conditions. The ordinances remain subject to the second and final readings on Dec. 16.
