America’s largest homebuilder is moving through the City of Leesburg approval process for a new subdivision with 141 homes on 59.6 acres east of C.R. 33 and north of Manor Oaks Court. And the developer has redesigned the project to save many of the large live oaks.
The wooded parcel is currently designated as Industrial in the city’s Future Land Use Designation. The developer is seeking to change the Future Land Use designation to allow for a Planned Unit Development zoning under the city’s Estate Residential designation. That would be consistent with Leesburg’s Growth Management Plan.
The property is owned by Jacob C. Smoot, Cedar Creek Equity Investments, LLC. Michael Rankin, with LPG Urban and Regional Planners, Inc., is the petitioner and DR Horton is slated to construct the homes. The project is named Cedar Creek.
The ordinance calling for a Large-Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment was approved on its initial reading in late September. Permitted uses would include detached single-family residential units, accessory structures for residential uses, a sales office, accessory retail, such as a clubhouse snack bar, and a temporary sales office. It does not allow for multi-family units or other commercial uses.
“This property is surrounded by other PUDs and a small sliver of industrial,” said Greg Beliveau, with LPG Urban and Regional Planners. “It is a pattern for the city in that area, so it is pretty consistent with its surroundings.”
The property is a triangular piece wedged between Arlington Ridge and Plantation, and there is other newer development in the area, he said.
“There is also a large utility easement that separates us from Arlington Ridge, so that is a pretty good buffer for them and to the small industrial exposure. Along with the powerline easement and trees, we put our 2.65-acre park there.”
One of the things LPG is most proud of, Beliveau said, is that the planners moved a road north and moved home lots to avoid the large live oaks and create more open space. “We are pretty proud of the fact we are saving all those big trees.”
The PUD request is scheduled to come back before the Leesburg City Council in either November or December, after the city receives comment back from the state, as required for a Large-Scale Comprehensive Land Use amendment.
Cedar Creek would be divided into 50- and 60-foot-wide lots, with no more than 70 lots having a minimum width of 50 feet. The minimum house size would be 1,500 square feet under roof. The developer would be required to provide a minimum of 35% open space throughout the development. That includes buffers, wetlands, retention and recreation areas.
Beliveau said planners also scattered the lot sizes. “There will be 50-foot lots next to 60-foot lots, so it will give more of a sense of community to the lot owners.”
The city’s Planning & Zoning staff and its Planning Commission, which held a public hearing on its Sept. 8, recommend approval.
The Cedar Creek land is surrounded by Lake County Industrial, Lake County Urban Low Density and Neighborhood Mixed-Use map designations.
According to the city staff’s analysis of the proposal, it will create “a substantial positive fiscal impact on the City of Leesburg, in the form of impact and utility fees, plus ad valorem taxes.”
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