Leesburg commissioners approved an amended plan for a controversial large scale subdivision on the Banning Ranch property despite one commissioner’s plea to end the city’s uncontrolled growth.
Jay Connell, mayor pro-tem and District 3 commissioner was the only commissioner to vote against the development.
“We need smart growth not uncontrolled growth,” Connell told his fellow commissioners.
He pointed out 30,000 lots are on the books but not yet built. He also noted the impact of all the growth on the area’s road grid as a reason to go slow on new developments.
Planning Director Dan Miller explained that 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 567 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 with no commercial development. The amended plan was reviewed by the state after the first reading of the ordnance on Jan. 27.
The requested change in the comprehensive plan 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.
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.
Nadia Crispin who lives next to the proposed development told the Leesburg commissioners of her concern during the Jan. 27 meeting 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.
