I I got it right to shake. >> Well, I I grew up Mormon. >> Okay. I'd like to call the meeting for the planning and zoning commission. It's July 23rd, 2020 26. Sorry.
Please stand for the pledge of flag and the invocation. >> Do the invocation. >> Dear Lord, we ask that you be with us today as we undertake the business of the city of Leesburg. We pray that the decisions made here will be pleasing in your sight.
Pray this in thy most holy name. Amen. >> Amen. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
>> Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Yes, sir. >> Oh, man. >> Everybody's had a chance to look at the minutes. Are there any additions, corrections, or deletions? If not, I'll accept a motion. >> So moved, Mr. Chairman.
>> Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> All in favor, say aye. >> Aye. >> All opposed? Thank you. Um Dan, do you want to or you want to get swear people in and
then do that? If you're going to speak today, please stand to be sworn in. >> Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> I do. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to
welcome everyone to the July 23, 2026 City of Leesburg Planning Commission meeting. My name is Dan Miller, Planning and Zoning Director for the City of Leesburg. Staff present today includes Deputy Director Candy Harper, Executive Assistant Sabrina Mitchell, Planner Senior Planner Max Van Allen,
Planner Miller Ortiz, and City Attorney Jennifer Couch. On today's agenda is available and as long along with the speakers registry on the table by the exit door. Under the rules of participation, the meeting is conducted under the following
process. The chairman will announce the case, staff will read exhibits into the record. The staff will then provide the case background which consists of general information about the request and read a recommendation into the record. The applicant will have an opportunity to speak on the case, the public will
have an opportunity to comment, the chairman will close the case to the public, and commission will discuss the case, the chairman will then uh call for a motion and a second and move the on to the next item on the agenda.
Uh we have our tentative dates for the city commission hearings which are listed in bold on the agenda. These dates are subject to be changed. In this case, I don't think they will be changed. Um but they are subject to be changed, so check with the P&Z office if you're concerned about that. And finally, on
behalf of the City of Leesburg Planning Staff and the City of Leesburg Planning Commission, we'd like to thank you for your participation in today's public hearing. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, sir. What we normally do is uh because these two cases are related, we
uh present all the information together, but we vote on the two cases separately. Um so I'll introduce both cases. Public hearing case number SSCP 26 1343
VOWLS seventh site And number two is public hearing case number RZ 26-1344 VOWEL 7th Site Plan rezoning. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. By way of background, this project consists
consists of a small scale comprehensive plan and a rezoning on a site consisting of approximately 36.99 plus or minus undeveloped acres. The property is generally located on the south side of County Road 470 and east of the Florida Turnpike. Under the
overall proposal, the future land use application for the project is requesting a change from City of Leesburg general commercial to age restricted development. The zoning application for the project is requesting a change from planned unit development to age restricted
development. The request is for approval of a zoning and future land use for future development consisting of age restricted uses in the Villages style of development which includes various residential and commercial uses. Senior
Planner Max Man Allen will present the maps and photo exhibits including the aerial zoning, future land use, surrounding land use, wetlands, flood zone maps, commission and CRA maps. >> Thank you, Mr. Miller. Our first image is the extended aerial showing the
subject property northeast of the turnpike and south of County Road 470. Our next image is the aerial showing the subject property south of Meggison Road and directly south of County Road 470.
The existing future land use is city general commercial and the property is surrounded by age restricted development to the north, south, and east, industrial to the west, industry and technology commerce park to the west and east, conservation to the north and
institutional to the east. The surrounding Lake County future land use is urban low to the south and west. The proposed future land use is city age-restricted development.
The existing zoning on the property is city PUD and is surrounded by PUD to the north, west and east. ARD or age-restricted development to the northwest and east, CIP, which is commercial industrial plan to the
southeast, P public to the north and SPUD small planned unit development to the east. Surrounding Lake County zoning is A agriculture to the west and south. The proposed zoning is city ARD
age-restricted development. Surrounding land uses include age-restricted residential to the north, government wetland to the west, timber and vacant government to the south, vacant commercial, utility, improved
government municipal to the east. There is flood zone A present on the northwest and southeast corners of the subject property. There are wetlands present along the western border of the subject property.
Surrounding city developments include the Villages of West Lake to the northeast and south and the subject property was formerly zoned as the CR 470 site. The subject property is located in commission district 3.
Signs were posted on July 10th, 2026. The top image shows sign one, a close-up of the sign on property from CR 470 in the eastern corner. The bottom image is looking north across CR 470 from the same site.
The top image is looking east along CR 470. The bottom image is looking south into the subject property from CR 470. The top image is looking west along CR 470. And the bottom image is signed to a close-up of the sign on the property
from CR 470 from the western corner. The top image is looking north along CR 470 from the second site. The bottom image is looking east along CR 470. The top image is going to be looking south into the subject property from CR
470. And the bottom image is looking west along CR 470. That's all I have, Mr. Miller. >> Thank you, Ms. Van Allen. With that, we move to the Department of Review Summary. The project was sent out to all city departments plus Lake County government and Lake County School Board
for comment. There were no substantive comments from the city departments. Nor were there any from the school board or Lake County Public Works. Under the public responses, the project, as Ms. Van Allen noted, was um
per Florida statute and City of Leesburg code requirements, the project was legally advertised, posted, and letters were sent out to the surrounding property owners within 200 ft. There were no public responses received. Under the terms of the ARD zoning, the
the proposal consists of 36.99 plus or minus acres. The permitted uses would include, under the ARD uh land use and zoning, various residential and commercial uses. For this discussion, under commercial, we're we're including retail, office, medical, professional, a
wide variety. It's market-driven at as really to what we're looking at. Within the villa- Villages of West Lake development standards, all developments have to conform to architectural design standards for buildings, street design requirements, including technical
standards for design and construction of the streets, street lighting, golf cart lanes, those types of things. There are gated entrances, landscaping plans for all homes and common areas, landscape buffers, significant wet and dry retention areas. They have uh significant recreation
spaces to include active and passive uses. The wetlands and flood zone areas are protected by law and there are wetland buffers, per the requirements of water management district. This request does not change or increase the overall Villages land use
intensities from what is currently approved by the city. So, there are no additional transportation impacts. Uh site access will be available excuse me, from CR 470, whether that's directly or from a access road. I don't
know at this point. Uh that will be decided in the future. Uh the developer is working with Lake County for any road improvements that they need to make. Uh utilities will be on water and wastewater systems. The site was
previously approved by city commission in 2023 for a mixed-use multi-family commercial development under the name of CR 470. Uh but no development occurred on the site. So, we really have a one-for-one trade here. It's basically the the land
has been sold to the Villages and they were going to develop it instead of the previous development which had similar requirements on it. The Villages would be applying the Chapter 163 statute requirements which allow mix of uses. And this is all subject to the age-restricted development use
regulations. So, at this time the applicant is requesting to have the standard uses under the ARD zoning and future land use and that allows some flexibility on the site while ensuring compatibility with the existing Villages properties and I'm
sure you've all been out on 470 and seen the Villages development on the north side of the road there. Um they do want to leave the option for commercial or residential and it depends on market driven on this site and the city has no issue
with that. Again, they're not ex- seeking to increase the previously approved density. They're just want to add this 36.9 acres 99 acres to the assemblage of the existing approved acreage. And utilities are all nearby.
There are numerous agreements between the city and the Villages on the service for for different utilities. Um And so I'd like to go ahead with the reading of the recommendations on that
if I may, Mr. Chairman. Under the small scale comp plan amendment for general commercial to age restricted development for the Villages Land Company LLC under case number SSCP 26-1343,
Planning and Zoning Department is recommending approval of the request for the following reasons. One, the project meets the requirements of chapter 163.3187 Florida Statutes for small scale comprehensive plan amendments. Two, the proposed request is compatible
with the adjacent future land use designations of Lake County urban low, City of Leesburg age restricted development, institutional, conservation, and industrial and technology park. Three, the proposed request is compatible with the proposed zoning of
ARD, which is age restricted development. And four, the proposed future land use designation for the site is consistent with the city's growth management plan future land use element goal one objective 1.6. The action requested is vote to approve the small scale comp plan amendment from
city general commercial to city age restricted development and forward that recommendation to the city commission for consideration. Under the recommendation for the rezoning from city PUD to ARD age
restricted development under case number RZ26-1344, the planning and zoning department is recommending approval of the request for the following reasons. One, the proposed request for an age restricted development zoning is compatible with the current surrounding zoning districts
including Lake County agriculture and city of Leesburg age restricted development plan unit development, small plan unit development, and commercial industrial plan along with public. Two, the proposed zoning as conditioned in the adopted chapter 163 agreement is
compatible with the proposed future land use designation amendment to city age restricted development and the current surrounding future land use designations. Three, the site is compatible with the existing villages the villages of West Lake approved developments along County
Road 470. And four, the proposed request does not appear to create a detriment to surrounding properties as conditioned under the adopted chapter 163 agreement and to add to that all of the numerous agreements the city has with the villages and the ARD
zoning. And the action requested is vote to approve the proposed rezoning from city PUD to city ARD age restricted development and forward this recommendation to the city commission for
consideration. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, based on the review of this proposal and the fact that it is consistent with the city's adopted comprehensive plan, and based on the fact that the proposed development is consistent with the city of Leesburg and the villages codes as
adopted in the city of Leesburg chapter 25 land development regulations, and based on the fact that the proposal is consistent with the development regulations and plans which are spelled out in the chapter 163 agreement between the villages and city of Leesburg. Therefore, staff is
recommending approval for case numbers LSCP 26-1343 and RZ26-1344 the Villages of West Lake. Mr. Brandon Maltuca and Mr. Darren Taylor are representing the property today
and they're here to answer any questions you may have. Uh city commission readings for these cases are scheduled for September 14th and September 28th. Uh there is no nothing unusual. It's basically just adding this 36 acres to the existing
Villages development. And that's it for this case. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you. Any questions of staff? >> I got a quick question. Just uh in reading the papers, Leesburg Electric has no objections.
This is outside our service territory. Who services them? >> I believe that area is >> SECO Sumter Electric. >> Is it Sumter Electric? >> I think so. >> Okay. I honestly, I don't know the answer on that. >> territories go like this.
>> go up all over the place, but I believe Sumter Electric >> I can find out and let you know. >> Duke or SECO. >> Sorry, I was just curious who services outside the Villages. Yeah. >> Any other questions? No.
Applicant? >> Please state your name and your address, please. >> Absolutely. Uh planning commissioners, Darren Taylor, 119 South Monroe Street, representing the Villages Land Company. Brandon Maltuca is here with me as well. As uh Dan mentioned, we we are certainly here
to answer any questions. I'll be very brief. I think uh the facts are pretty clear. The property was already approved for commercial. What we are proposing is of similar density and intensity. In fact, the uh Technically, it's actually a reduction
in impacts because the only thing we're doing is basically spreading our entitlements that we you have already approved onto the property. So, any of the development rights under the County Road 470 project would go away. And so, we're just simply applying those and uh
Certainly from a larger planning standpoint, incorporating the property into a master plan development rather than individual development allows for better plan of development standard development theme, etc. Connections with our
cart paths, etc. So, there's a lot of advantages as far as incorporating development into the larger master plan. And we're happy to answer any questions you might have. We're glad to be able to be here today. >> Thanks. Any questions to the applicant? >> Yeah, silly question.
Age restricted, just for my information. Age restricted, what age? >> Uh well, that's a a federal term, 55 plus. And it and it it ties into there's a technical I think it's 80% of units have to be 50
55 plus. And so, but it's a it's a federal law that that we're consistent with as far as the age restricted development. >> Okay. I just was curious about the age number. >> Yeah, you It's always good to be curious. >> Yeah, but it's 80% 55 and 20% can be
under that. But you have to be over 19 or 19 and above or something like that. Cuz I was in the village. I had >> If you're under 19, you don't want to move there. >> Well, we lived there and I had to move out cuz we took in my other daughter. She was too young. In fact, I was chairman of the one of
the districts. >> You lived in the village? >> Yeah. I was chairman of District 10. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Some good entertainment there. >> So, is there a maximum age on age restriction?
>> Uh probably probably probably 82. >> I know that's why that's why I said it. I was trying to remember how old he was. >> Okay. All right. For uh public hearing case number SSCP 26 1343
uh VOWL 7th site plan small scale comprehensive plan amendment. Is there a motion? >> I'll move to approve, Mr. Chairman. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Any discussion? Roll call. >> Commissioner Barnes Cox. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Seminole.
>> Yes. >> Commissioner Sanders. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Sena. >> Yes. >> Commissioner O'Connell. >> Yes. Um public hearing case number RZ 261344 VOWL 7th site plan rezoning. Is there a motion?
>> So moved, Mr. Chairman. >> Second. >> To approve the amendment. >> Keep it Keep it going. >> Uh any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Seminole. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Sanders. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Sena. >> Yes. >> Commissioner O'Connell. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Barnes Cox.
>> Yes. >> Cool. I think we're done here. Anything else to be brought up before us? >> Um >> Villages of West Lake. >> I do have two quick announcements. Um I wanted to introduce the city's
planning and zoning department's intern, Ms. Sidra Gray. Ms. Sidra has come to us from the University of Florida. She is working with us and doing a great job. So, if you could say hi. >> So, is she ready for her speech? I mean >> Well, I
>> University of Florida, that's an outstanding young lady. >> I I told her I told her I haven't her 3 minutes limit and uh >> Minimum. >> Yeah. >> I think you need to come up and tell us about yourself. >> Wait for a little. >> Please. I'm not going to do I'm not going to do
that to you. Welcome. >> Congratulations. Welcome to the team. >> Yes. >> Anything else? >> And the other thing is I have the terms of three commissioners expiring as of September 30, 2026. So, I will need to
request that you fill out new applications. We have to do this. Those terms are for our chairman, Mr. Senate, >> Acquitt. >> Mr. Simeone and Mr. Ackerman. They all those three expire this year. We'll worry about next year next year.
We have those three. So, if you want to be on the board, please bring us We and if you let us know, we can send you the application. Um but we would like we're certainly happy to keep the same people on board for for now.
Um and we will have to advertise in the newspaper or on the website. I forget exactly. The city clerk handles that for us, but we do have to advertise. So, and staff has no control over who gets on and who gets off. Um it's all city commission decisions. >> Right.
>> But we're pleased to be working with you. And that is it for us. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> And if you reapply, it's probably good idea to try to make that commission meeting, too. >> Oh, yes, sir. It is always good to if if you decide to reapply, please come to the commission meeting
and where they're considering the applications and uh we will let you know when that is. It's usually It's usually in September. >> Sounds good. >> But as soon as we can get those applications in, then the better. >> Cool. Anything else?
>> Yeah, I'd like to say something. >> Sure. >> Thank you guys for for the card here. >> Yes, sir. >> Doing the doing the death of my brother. I appreciate you guys so much. >> Deepest sympathies. Thank you, sir. >> We got through it. Yeah, tough battle, but we we getting through it. >> Yeah, good.
All right. Well, thank you everybody and have a good weekend. >> Thank you. All right.