Leesburg commissioners heeded neighbor’s concerns regarding the proposed Old Mill subdivision and voted down the plan during Monday night’s commission meeting.
The neighbors, who live in the Stonegate at Silver Lake subdivision just north of the proposed Old Mill property, banded together in opposition to the project. They appeared at the Leesburg Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Feb. 20, where they presented testimony and exhibits which the Planning Commission considered when they voted to recommend denial of the project. The neighbors also presented testimony to the Leesburg commissioners during the first reading of the proposed Old Mill development.
The developer of the Old Mill subdivision, Village Lake Promenade LLC, sought to annex the land and wanted approval of a modification of the small-scale comp plan and rezoning from Lake County Urban Low Density to City Of Leesburg Estate Residential during Monday’s commission meeting.
If approved, the Old Mill subdivision would have been developed on a 37.48 acre parcel located east of Radio Road and north of U.S. Hwy. 441. The subdivision would have contained 32 townhomes and 110 single family homes.
Several neighbors appeared and expressed their objections to the project. The 37.48 acre parcel is landlocked with no access to Radio Road except through a designated area which has wetlands.
Several citizens emphasized the wetlands as needing protection. Angela Chambliss, who would be living within 30 feet of the proposed road, told the commission that her property would be negatively affected by the development. She is worried about flooding and the negative impact that the Old Mill development would have on property values.
Frank Stanfield told the commission that he has been a journalist covering this area for 40 years and said this is”absolutely the worst zoning thing I have ever seen.” He emphasized the negative impact that the development would have on the wetlands and wildlife. Allen Chen presented several pictures which showed the problems with the development due to its impact on the wetlands and potential flooding. Louise Chen showed the commission a map which showed the wetlands are actually a pond. She said that when the trees are removed from the area it will lead to flooding.
During the commission’s discussion of the project Commissioner Jay Connell said that “this is just an absolutely horrible location to be putting this type of development.” Mayor Allen Reisman said he had walked the property and agreed the location of the proposed entry roadway would negatively affect property values of the neighbors.
The commission rejected the development 4-to-1 with only Commissioner Mike Pederson voting yes.