What were the most significant items on the Leesburg Planning Commission agenda for October 2025?

Q: What were the most significant items on the Leesburg Planning Commission agenda for October 2025?

· **Banning 5 denial signals Commission pushback on suburban sprawl density:** The 4-1 vote to disapprove a 294-home subdivision — despite staff recommendation of approval and consistency with the prior 2008 PUD — marks a notable shift. Commissioners are pushing back on cumulative traffic impacts even when individual projects meet code requirements. The CR 48/CR 33 corridor south of Leesburg is reaching a threshold where new residential gets harder to approve. · **Traffic is now the dominant concern in Leesburg:** Multiple commissioners focused on the compounding effect of approved-but-unbuilt projects on CR 48, CR 33, and US-27. The Commission is looking at 2031 buildout capacity, not just current conditions. This mirrors concerns across the Lake County corridor (similar to Clermont's Hartwood Marsh Road bottleneck). · **New Commissioner Shaun Robertson sworn in:** Robertson replaces Kaplan (who retired in September). Robertson voted with the majority on all items including the Banning 5 denial, suggesting alignment with the growth-skeptical bloc. · **Dominium Apartments continues to be delayed:** Now postponed twice (September and October), the 18.71-acre apartment project on US-27 is being revised to address FDOT feedback and parking ratios — signals a difficult path to approval. · **Lake Harris flagpole approved unanimously:** The 80-foot flagpole/flag variance at Venetian Gardens passed easily, with the Commission comfortable that city-owned property maintains control over future use of the site for memorials.

Meeting Reading

Leesburg Planning Commission

October 23, 2025

4 items on the agenda

**Banning 5 denial signals Commission pushback on suburban sprawl density:** The 4-1 vote to disapprove a 294-home subdivision — despite staff recommendation of approval and consistency with the prior 2008 PUD — marks a notable shift. Commissioners are pushing back on cumulative traffic impacts even when individual projects meet code requirements. The CR 48/CR 33 corridor south of Leesburg is reaching a threshold where new residential gets harder to approve.
**Traffic is now the dominant concern in Leesburg:** Multiple commissioners focused on the compounding effect of approved-but-unbuilt projects on CR 48, CR 33, and US-27. The Commission is looking at 2031 buildout capacity, not just current conditions. This mirrors concerns across the Lake County corridor (similar to Clermont's Hartwood Marsh Road bottleneck).
**New Commissioner Shaun Robertson sworn in:** Robertson replaces Kaplan (who retired in September). Robertson voted with the majority on all items including the Banning 5 denial, suggesting alignment with the growth-skeptical bloc.

On October 23, 2025, City of Leesburg's Planning Commission considered 4 agenda items. **Banning 5 denial signals Commission pushback on suburban sprawl density:** The 4-1 vote to disapprove a 294-home subdivision — despite staff recommendation of approval and consistency with the prior 2008 PUD — marks a notable shift. Commissioners are pushing back on cumulative traffic impacts even when individual projects meet code requirements. The CR 48/CR 33 corridor south of Leesburg is reaching a threshold where new residential gets harder to approve. **Traffic is now the dominant concern in Leesburg:** Multiple commissioners focused on the compounding effect of approved-but-unbuilt projects on CR 48, CR 33, and US-27. The Commission is looking at 2031 buildout capacity, not just current conditions. This mirrors concerns across the Lake County corridor (similar to Clermont's Hartwood Marsh Road bottleneck). **New Commissioner Shaun Robertson sworn in:** Robertson replaces Kaplan (who retired in September). Robertson voted with the majority on all items including the Banning 5 denial, suggesting alignment with the growth-skeptical bloc.

CHANGE LENS

THE READINGmeeting record

City of Leesburg Planning Commission — October 23, 2025

Meeting Overview

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

Attendance

Present: Nathaniel Sanders (Vice-Chairman, presiding), Ted Bowersox, John O'Kelley, Shaun Robertson, Ken Simeone
Absent: Tim Sennett (Chairman), Frazier Marshall, Ze'Shieca Carter, 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), Jennifer Cotch (Attorney)

Agenda Items

Item 1: Dominium Apartments — Small Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment (Old Business)

Type: Comp Plan Amendment
Case Number: SSCP-25-1269
Location: West of US Highway 27 and north of Palm Drive
Applicant: Dominium
Request: Change future land use of 18.71 acres from City General Commercial and Low Density Residential to City General Commercial for apartment development.
Acreage: 18.71
Staff Recommendation: Not heard (applicant requested postponement)
Action: Postponed to November 20, 2025 Planning Commission
Vote: 5-0
Notable Discussion: Applicant requested postponement to allow time to revise site plan based on feedback from FDOT and to address City of Leesburg parking requirements. This case was originally postponed from the September 18 meeting.

Item 2: Dominium Apartments — Planned Unit Development (Old Business)

Type: PUD
Case Number: PUD-25-1270
Location: West of US Highway 27 and north of Palm Drive
Applicant: Dominium
Request: Rezone 18.71 acres from City PUD to City PUD for apartment development.
Acreage: 18.71
Staff Recommendation: Not heard (applicant requested postponement)
Action: Postponed to November 20, 2025 Planning Commission
Vote: 5-0
Notable Discussion: Companion case to SSCP-25-1269. Both postponed together.

Item 3: Leesburg Boat Club — Variance (Flagpole & Flag)

Type: Variance
Case Number: VAR-25-714
Location: South of Venetian Gardens on the western shore of Lake Harris, east of Lake Shore Drive
Applicant: Leesburg Boat Club
Request: Variance to allow construction of an 80-foot-high flagpole and installation of a 20-foot by 38-foot flag in the P (Public) zoning district.
Current Zoning: P (Public)
Acreage: 113.93
Staff Recommendation: Approve
Action: Approved
Vote: 5-0 (roll call: O'Kelley Yes, Bowersox Yes, Robertson Yes, Sanders Yes, Simeone Yes)
Notable Discussion: City received two public responses — one in support, one recommending denial citing existing view should be left as-is. Commission discussed ensuring the flagpole does not become a political issue. Dan Miller noted the proposal came from boat club members with military experience. Because the flagpole is on city property in the public district, the city controls what goes on it. Future memorials (military or otherwise) could be added without further zoning action. Final decision rests with Planning Commission (not forwarded to City Commission).

Item 4: Banning 5 — Planned Unit Development

Type: PUD
Case Number: PUD-25-1285
Location: East of County Road 48 and north of North Austin Merritt Road
Applicant: Hanover Land Company (represented by Andrew McCown, GAI Consultants)
Request: Rezone 103.14 acres from City PUD to City PUD for 294 single-family homes.
Current Zoning: City PUD (previously approved 2008 for 300 units — 148 SF, 152 townhomes, 30K sq ft commercial; expired March 2010)
Proposed Zoning: City of Leesburg PUD
Acreage: 103.14
Staff Recommendation: Approve
Action: Disapproved
Vote: 4-1 to disapprove (roll call: Bowersox Yes, Robertson Yes, Sanders No, Simeone Yes, O'Kelley Yes)
Conditions: N/A (disapproved)
Notable Discussion: Compared to expired 2008 PUD: reduces total units from 300 to 294, eliminates townhomes and commercial, increases recreation from 2 to 2.5 acres, increases open space from 33.5% to 41.6%. Two phases of 147 units each. Lot sizes: 50-foot (241 lots max) and 60-foot (53 lots min). Hanover controls all Banning Ranch phases 1-5 and plans to connect roads through all phases. Traffic analysis showed 70/30 directional split between CR 48 and CR 33. Staff supported the project based on transportation network connections. School Board noted mitigation agreement would be required. One written public response opposing the project citing water supply concerns, wildlife habitat destruction, and traffic. Commissioners expressed significant concern about cumulative traffic on CR 48 and CR 33 feeding into US-27, traffic already backed up to Lake Harris. Commissioner concerns about density, open space quality (stormwater ponds counted toward open space percentage), and insufficient guest parking. Applicant offered to increase lot depth from 115' to 120'. Despite staff recommendation of approval, Commission voted 4-1 to disapprove.

Public Hearings Summary

Number of speakers: 0 public speakers at podium (written responses received)
General sentiment: Opposition to Banning 5; mixed on flagpole
Key concerns:
- Cumulative traffic impacts on CR 48 and CR 33 from multiple approved developments converging on US-27
- Water supply and wildlife habitat concerns for Banning 5
- Quality of open space — stormwater ponds counting toward open space percentages
- Existing view preservation at Lake Harris (flagpole variance)

Key Signals

Banning 5 denial signals Commission pushback on suburban sprawl density: The 4-1 vote to disapprove a 294-home subdivision — despite staff recommendation of approval and consistency with the prior 2008 PUD — marks a notable shift. Commissioners are pushing back on cumulative traffic impacts even when individual projects meet code requirements. The CR 48/CR 33 corridor south of Leesburg is reaching a threshold where new residential gets harder to approve.
Traffic is now the dominant concern in Leesburg: Multiple commissioners focused on the compounding effect of approved-but-unbuilt projects on CR 48, CR 33, and US-27. The Commission is looking at 2031 buildout capacity, not just current conditions. This mirrors concerns across the Lake County corridor (similar to Clermont's Hartwood Marsh Road bottleneck).
New Commissioner Shaun Robertson sworn in: Robertson replaces Kaplan (who retired in September). Robertson voted with the majority on all items including the Banning 5 denial, suggesting alignment with the growth-skeptical bloc.
Dominium Apartments continues to be delayed: Now postponed twice (September and October), the 18.71-acre apartment project on US-27 is being revised to address FDOT feedback and parking ratios — signals a difficult path to approval.
Lake Harris flagpole approved unanimously: The 80-foot flagpole/flag variance at Venetian Gardens passed easily, with the Commission comfortable that city-owned property maintains control over future use of the site for memorials.

Raw Notes

New Commissioner Shaun Robertson sworn in at this meeting.
Dan Miller announced a new staff Planner, Milchezidek Ortiz from Houston, Texas, starting October 27.
Staff working on new Planning Commission binders for all members, to be distributed before year end.
Commission terms expiring in 2026; members advised to reapply.
Vice-Chairman Sanders presided due to Chairman Sennett's absence.

[THE READING]meeting record