Leesburg commissioners approved three ordinances on Monday night that cleared the way for a 256-unit apartment complex to be built near the high-dollar Silver Lake neighborhood – despite opposition from two residents.
“What we’re asking for is some sensible zoning, something to protect our homes,” said resident Walter Hartman. “I have two acres that butts up directly against this thing.”
The apartment complex will be on a 46.5-acre parcel located north of U.S. Hwy. 441, south of N Silver Lake Road and southeast of County Road 44. The commission unanimously approved the annexation of the property, a large-scale comprehensive plan amendment from low to high density and rezoning the land to planned unit development.
In December, when the commission heard the first readings of the three ordinances, many Silver Lake residents showed up to voice their displeasure with the planned apartments. That meeting quickly turned contentious, with one resident accusing then-Mayor Dan Robuck III of being in favor of the project because his family’s business – Ro-Mac Lumber & Supply – would profit from selling the building materials to the apartment developer – a charge that caused Robuck to become visibly upset as he vehemently denied the allegation.
At Monday’s meeting, Hartman made it clear that he didn’t approve of that accusation or the negative tone of the first meeting. But he said it’s important for residents to be able to express their opinions to the commission. And he suggested that allowing the apartment complex would not only create extra traffic in the Silver Lake neighborhood but would bring other “stuff” into the community.
“Personally, I’m not against growth and I think growth is good,” he said. “We’re not going to be able to stop that with The Villages that we have around here. But we need sensible growth. And putting 256 apartments up against my home is not sensible growth.”
Commissioner Jay Hurley assured Hartman, who himself owns 12 apartments, that he does have the right to speak and his thoughts are appreciated. But he pointed out that Leesburg has a housing shortage and needs places for people to live who work in the city. And he added that it doesn’t seem to matter what’s proposed around Silver Lake – large lots with expensive homes or nice apartments – the residents are never satisfied.
“The bottom line is the five of us (commissioners) have to look at the betterment of our community,” Hurley said, referring to providing nice places for Leesburg residents to live.
Ken Stark, a local physician and Silver Lake resident, expressed several concerns, including the increased traffic that he believes would take place on Silver Lake Drive. He said he runs around the lake and frequently sees people riding bicycles and pushing strollers while out walking on Silver Lake Drive.
“I really have concerns about the traffic issues,” he said.
Greg Beliveau, representing the developer of the apartment complex, said a traffic study was conducted that showed impacts to the area will be minimal. He also pointed out that the residents of the apartment complex would have several options to get to their jobs without ever having to travel in the Silver Lake neighborhood. And he said Silver Lake residents who are upset about traffic in their neighborhood should remember that the car dealerships nearby on Hwy. 441 conduct test drives in the neighborhood.
“So we already know that there are traffic impacts that have nothing to do with us,” said Beliveau, of LPG Urban and Regional Planners Inc., while adding that traveling around Silver Lake to get to Hwy. 441 would actually be one of the longest routes available to the apartment residents.
“There are other options,” Beliveau said. “Silver Lake isn’t the only option of choice.”
Commissioners eventually asked Beliveau if the developer would be willing to put up an 8-foot wall behind the apartment complex where it will butt up against lots in Silver Lake. The original plan called for a 6-foot wall but Beliveau said his client would be more than happy to increase it by two feet. That satisfied the concerns of the commissioners and the ordinance changes were unanimously approved.
