The Leesburg Planning Commission recommended that the city approve comprehensive plan and zoning changes which would allow the construction of 530 houses on a 464-acre parcel in Phases 3 and 4 of the Banning Ranch development.
The Banning Ranch development is located located west of County Road 33, south of the Florida Turnpike and east of County Road 48. The Banning Ranch development had originally been approved to have more single family homes as well as commercial development.
The city’s planning and zoning director, Dan Miller, told the commissioners that the requested change in the comprehensive plan and zoning request would actual be a substantial reduction in the amount of homes in the development and would result in a 1.7 homes per acre density. Miller explained that the request would allow 358 lots 50-feet wide with a minimum home size of 1,600 square feet, 118 lots which would be 60 feet wide with a minimum home size of 1,800 square feet and 53 lots 70 feet wide which would have a minimum house size of 1,800 square feet.
The subdivision would have two exits on the west side and one exit on the east side of the development. T.J.Bryant of the Hammock Grove Estates Home Owners’ Association, voiced concerns regarding the impact the subdivision would have on roads in the area. He noted that there were often backups on the roads which the new residents would be using and that the roads are in bad condition. Bryant stressed that CR33 was in bad condition. Miller responded to Bryant by explaining that the roads were county roads and that the city constantly updates the county on developments served by these roads.
“I hate to say this but it is the truth. The roads will not be improved until there is development,” Miller said.
Harry Butler of The Plantation of Leesburg neighborhood also raised questions regarding roads and area intersections particularly CR33. CR33 recently had a crash which killed three people when the car they were in attempted to make a turn and were hit by a dump truck.
Tony Bombe, from the Clearwater Reserve HOA just north of the proposed development told the commissioners that the CR33 at 470 intersection is a “nightmare with half mile backups.” He also had concerns with wetlands and the impact of the development on possible flooding.
Nadia Crispin whose property borders the Banning Ranch development also expressed concerns regarding traffic and water runoff. She noted that her property is on a well and septic system and was concerned that the development would negatively affect her drinking water. She also pointed out that the study that the developer had used regarding the environmental impact had an expiration date of Dec. 19, 2023. Both Crispin and Bombe noted that the development would displace wildlife.
The request for the changes to both the comprehensive plan and the zoning requested by the developer were approved by the planning department. The planning commissioners approved the developer’s request with a 5 to 2 vote.
The city commissioners will have a first reading of the request on Jan. 22 and a second reading where the project will be voted on tentatively set for March 11.