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Leesburg Planning Commission
May 2025

6 items on the agendaConvened May 22, 2025
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City of Leesburg Planning Commission — May 22, 2025

Meeting Overview

Type: Regular Meeting Quorum: Yes (5 of 9 members present) Duration: ~1 hour 35 minutes (4:30 PM - 6:05 PM)

Attendance

  • Present: Tim Sennett (Chairman), Ted Bowersox, John O'Kelley, Ze'Shieca Carter, Stewart Kaplan
  • Absent: Nathaniel Sanders, Frazier Marshall, Ken Simeone, Darin Akkerman
  • Staff Present: Dan Miller (Planning & Zoning Director), Sabrina Mitchell (Executive Assistant I), Kandi Harper (Deputy Director), Dianne Yekel (Senior Planner), Max Van Allen (Senior Planner), Melissa Medders De Los Santos (Planner), Jennifer Cotch (Attorney)

Agenda Items

Item 1: Lake Margaretta Estates — Large Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment

  • Type: Comp Plan Amendment
  • Case Number: LSCP-25-512
  • Location: South of CR 48 and east of Number Two Road
  • Applicant: LPG (Mike Rankin, owner); Tom Daly (Daly Design Group, planner)
  • Request: Change future land use of 91.07 acres from Lake County Rural Transition, Lake County Rural, and City Estate Density Residential to City Estate Density Residential for a 586-home single-family development.
  • Current Zoning: Lake County Rural Transition, Lake County Rural, City Estate Density Residential (FLU)
  • Proposed Zoning: City Estate Density Residential (FLU)
  • Acreage: 91.07 (part of larger 196-acre project)
  • Staff Recommendation: Approve
  • Action: Denied
  • Vote: 3-2 (motion to disapprove; Bowersox, Kaplan, O'Kelley yes; Sennett, Carter no)
  • Notable Discussion: 586 homes proposed at 3 units/acre (PUD capped, comp plan allows up to 4). Three villages, 2-3 construction phases. Main access from CR 48. Commissioners concerned about density and traffic on CR 48 and No. 2 Road. Commissioner Bowersox stated he was not comfortable with the density. Applicant held neighborhood meeting with ~30 attendees; traffic safety and volume were primary issues. Applicant proposed intersection improvements. Project included amenity center, neighborhood parks, pool, playground, and 56 acres of open space near Lake Margaretta.

Item 2: Lake Margaretta Estates — Planned Unit Development

  • Type: PUD
  • Case Number: PUD-25-513
  • Location: South of CR 48 and east of Number Two Road
  • Applicant: LPG / Daly Design Group
  • Request: Rezone 196.07 acres from Lake County Agriculture, City RE-1, and City Agriculture to City PUD for 586 single-family homes.
  • Current Zoning: Lake County A (Agriculture), City RE-1, City A (Agriculture)
  • Proposed Zoning: City of Leesburg PUD
  • Acreage: 196.07
  • Staff Recommendation: Approve
  • Action: Denied
  • Vote: 3-2 (motion to disapprove; Kaplan, O'Kelley, Bowersox yes; Sennett, Carter no)
  • Notable Discussion: Companion case to LSCP-25-512. Denied following comp plan denial.

Item 3: Dilly Lake Multi Family — Small Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment

  • Type: Comp Plan Amendment
  • Case Number: SSCP-25-519
  • Location: West of US Highway 27 and north of Ronald Reagan Turnpike
  • Applicant: KP & Franklin (Robbie Moon)
  • Request: Change future land use of 24.43 acres from Lake County Regional Office to City General Commercial for a mixed-use development with 300 apartments and retail/convenience store.
  • Current Zoning: Lake County Regional Office (FLU)
  • Proposed Zoning: City General Commercial (FLU)
  • Acreage: 24.43
  • Staff Recommendation: Approve
  • Action: Approved
  • Vote: 5-0
  • Notable Discussion: Mixed-use: 300-unit multi-family with 10,000 sq ft commercial (potential convenience store/gas station). Located at US-27/Turnpike intersection. 35-45% open space. Commissioner Carter commended green space efforts but asked about childcare options. Staff discussed workforce housing market — targeting Disney/Orlando commuters. Traffic study showed 33% of trips would go into town, not impacting downtown core. Right-in/right-out access on US-27.

Item 4: Dilly Lake Multi Family — Planned Unit Development

  • Type: PUD
  • Case Number: PUD-25-520
  • Location: West of US Highway 27 and north of Ronald Reagan Turnpike
  • Applicant: KP & Franklin (Robbie Moon)
  • Request: Rezone 24.43 acres from Lake County PUD to City of Leesburg PUD for 300-unit multi-family with commercial.
  • Current Zoning: Lake County PUD
  • Proposed Zoning: City of Leesburg PUD
  • Acreage: 24.43
  • Staff Recommendation: Approve
  • Action: Approved
  • Vote: 5-0
  • Notable Discussion: Companion case to SSCP-25-519.

Item 5: Mobile Food Vendor Ordinance Revision

  • Type: Text Amendment
  • Case Number: AMDT-25-596
  • Location: Citywide (Sec. 25-292(18))
  • Applicant: City of Leesburg Planning & Zoning Staff
  • Request: Update mobile food vending ordinance to comply with State preemptions, replace permitting with letter of location compliance, and remove fees.
  • Staff Recommendation: Approve
  • Action: Approved (with condition to review within one year)
  • Vote: 5-0
  • Notable Discussion: Three pathways for food vendors: (1) Temporary Use Permit for one truck per property, (2) Special Events Permit, (3) Mobile Food Vendor Letter of Location Compliance. Discussion about allowing multiple trucks on larger properties (like the mall). Commission requested Staff revisit within a year to consider expanding to maximum of 3 units on larger parcels. State preempted local food truck regulation.

Item 6: Montaudo Accessory Dwelling Unit — Conditional Use Permit

  • Type: CUP
  • Case Number: CUP-25-553
  • Location: West of Water Shore Drive and north of US Highway 441
  • Applicant: Montaudo
  • Request: Conditional use permit for one accessory dwelling unit in R-2 (Medium Density Residential) on 0.45 acres.
  • Current Zoning: R-2 (Medium Density Residential)
  • Acreage: 0.45
  • Staff Recommendation: Approve
  • Action: Approved
  • Vote: 5-0
  • Notable Discussion: Staff noted rising cost of housing driving more ADU applications. ADU gets its own address and can be rented. Applicant met all code requirements.

Public Hearings Summary

  • Number of speakers: ~3-4 (low public turnout for this meeting)
  • General sentiment: Mixed — opposition to Lake Margaretta density; support for Dilly Lake and food truck ordinance
  • Key concerns:
    • Traffic on CR 48 and Number Two Road (Lake Margaretta)
    • Density levels for suburban development (Lake Margaretta)
    • Need for childcare facilities in new developments
    • Food truck regulation fairness — balancing access for vendors with protection for brick-and-mortar restaurants

Key Signals

  • Commission continues growth resistance on periphery: Lake Margaretta Estates denied despite staff support — the second consecutive meeting where a large annexation/PUD was rejected. Commission concerned about CR 48 traffic and rural-to-suburban transition density. Note: only 5 of 9 members present.
  • Turnpike corridor attracting multi-family workforce housing: Dilly Lake (300 apartments near US-27/Turnpike) approved unanimously, targeting Orlando/Disney commuter market. Staff and applicant explicitly discussed the workforce housing pipeline and proximity to employment centers. This signals Leesburg positioning as affordable bedroom community.
  • ADU trend accelerating: Montaudo ADU approved with staff commentary about rising housing costs driving more ADU applications. Policy environment favorable for these incremental density additions.
  • Food truck deregulation reflects state preemption: City updating ordinances to comply with Florida statute changes that limit local food truck regulation. Commission interested in being business-friendly while maintaining safety standards.
  • Childcare as planning concern: Commissioner Carter raising childcare access as a condition/consideration for large developments — emerging as a recurring theme in planning discussions.

Raw Notes

  • No announcements.
  • Minutes from April 24, 2025 meeting approved 5-0.