Managing unprecedented growth will be the challenge facing Leesburg in 2024.
The city’s population has grown from 20,416 in 2010 to an estimated 27,810 at the end of 2021. The city along with Lakefront TV has prepared a State of the City video which sets out the challenges facing the city in the future as wells steps to meet the challenges which the explosive growth presents.
Over 11,000 dwelling units have been approved for development in Leesburg and newly annexed developments within the city according to Dan Miller, director of the Planning and Zoning Department. He goes on to explain that 490 acres were added to the city in 2023 along with 2.5 million square feet of commercial space, 611,000 square feet of industrial space, about 1.6 million square feet of office space was authorized as was 1.5 million square feet of institutional space.
City Manager Al Minner has characterized 2023 as a year of transition for Leesburg. He said that “the deal the city struck with The Villages has been a catalyst for the growth we are seeing.” The Villages added 3,200 homes in the city by the end of 2023. He goes on to explain steps the city has undertaken to redevelop and renew parts of the city.
Steps taken to deal with the growth are also presented in the video. The extension of a sewer bypass agreement with the NVR Homes developer is an example of steps the city has taken to handle the growth.
Also covered in the video was the construction of a one million gallon water tank to support the growth around the south portion of U.S. Hwy. 27 corridor, a $40 million dollar expansion of the turnpike waste water project that would increase the plant’s capacity from 4.5 million gallons per day to six million gallons per day was started in November.
The Leesburg Planning Commission has forwarded a recommendation to the city commissioners to approve another 6,800 homes into Leesburg. The growth of The Villages into Leesburg will add an additional one billion dollar investment to the tax roles which would bring in substantial tax revenues to the city. The city has substantially reduced the millage rate thus reducing property taxes for residents.
The State of the City video can be seen at this YouTube link:
