Leesburg commissioners recently reviewed an amended plan for a controversial large scale subdivision on the Banning Ranch property.
The Banning Ranch development is located west of County Road 33, south of the Florida Turnpike and east of County Road 48. The development had originally been approved to have more single family homes as well as commercial development. The amended Banning Ranch development plan reduced the number of homes to 530 single family residences.
The city’s planning and zoning director, Dan Miller, told the commissioners that the requested change in the comprehensive plan and zoning request would actually 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. Miller’s department review indicated that the modified large-scale plan met all requirements for approval.
The Planning and zoning commission voted 5 to 2 to recommend that the Leesburg commissioners approve the proposed amended subdivision after hearing from several individuals who reside near the Banning Ranch property.
During The December Planning and Zoning commission meeting T.J. Bryant of the Hammock Grove Estates Homeowners 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 County Road 33 was in bad condition. Other neighbors expressed concerns regarding traffic congestion and the impact of the development on their water supply as well as flooding concerns.
The only neighbor who attended both the Planning and Zoning Commission and this past week’s Leesburg commission was Nadia Crispin who lives next to the proposed development. She told the Leesburg commissioners of her concern of the increased traffic on CR 33 and the number of fatal accidents on that road including the recent crash which killed three people when the car they were in attempted to make a turn and were hit by a dump truck. She also noted that much of the Banning Ranch property consists of wetlands and was concerned with the impact that the development would have on her well and septic systems.
The commissioners voted 5-0 to refer the amended plan to the state for review which is required with all large scale developments . The second reading of the plan is set for March 11. The commissioners will then vote to either approve or reject the amended Banning Ranch plan.
