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Lady Lake commissioners give consensus to advance Lake Ella independent‑living project despite tree‑loss concerns
Summary
At a May 4 conceptual workshop, the Town of Lady Lake reviewed three waivers for the Lake Ella Independent Living Facility — landscaping, architectural style, and color — and, after debate about tree retention and traffic, commissioners gave consensus direction for the applicant to proceed while reserving formal action for a later meeting.
Becky Schneider, senior town planner for the Town of Lady Lake, opened the May 4 special conceptual workshop with an overview of a waiver package for the Lake Ella Independent Living Facility, a multi‑phase project on the south side of town near U.S. 441. Schneider told commissioners the applicant requests three waivers: one to Chapter 10 (landscaping) and two to Chapter 20 (commercial design), and that the packet shows the first phase includes five five‑story buildings and six townhouses.
"The applicant is proposing to retain 7.2% of the existing trees on‑site," Schneider said, describing the submitted tree‑retention maps and a packet claim of more than 2,500 trees (with over 1,700 under 6‑inch DBH). She also reviewed a site history of opportunistic regrowth since 2004 and explained the project will require substantial grading because elevations vary substantially across the parcel.
Jason Bullard of EXO Limited, the applicant's representative, told the commission the vegetation is largely young regrowth with many invasive or poor‑quality specimens that code requires be removed. "We basically reworked the entire property to save that cluster of trees because there is a historic tree there," Bullard said, and described a stepped building approach (one side 4 stories, one side 5 stories) and a planting plan intended to restore canopy over 15 years.
Commissioners pressed the applicant on unit counts, access, and traffic. Bullard estimated roughly 98 units per 5‑story building; Schneider's earlier summary listed a total of 485 living units for the phase in the packet, a discrepancy commissioners noted. Staff and the applicant said primary access for this phase would be from U.S. 441 and that the applicant is coordinating with Lake County Public Works and the Florida Department of Transportation on access and any required signaling.
Several commissioners and Mayor Ed Freeman expressed frustration about the scale of clearing. "I'm not happy with all the trees disappearing," Mayor Freeman said. Commissioners acknowledged many on‑site trees are small seedlings or in poor health but asked the applicant to consider additional canopy species for long‑term planting. Schneider told the commission a variance application to remove two historic trees will be scheduled for the next meeting; staff said the applicant is prioritizing historic trees that are viable.
Before taking formal action, staff asked for direction so APCON (applicant/conceptual review) can proceed with site plan development. After debate, three commissioners voiced support for moving forward with the waivers as proposed and two registered objections; staff recorded "3 yeses." The commission did not take a formal, recorded vote on final waivers at the workshop; instead it provided consensus direction for the applicant to continue design work and for staff to process the variance and any required permitting.
What happens next: the variance request to remove two historic trees will be heard at a future commission meeting; the applicant will continue coordination with Lake County Public Works and FDOT on access and signaling. The conceptual workshop adjourned with the commission's consensus to allow the applicant to advance site plan work for this phase.
