Leesburg commissioners will review a large-scale comprehensive plan amendment and zoning change Monday night to pave the way for a massive new residential community.
The proposal seeks to rezone roughly 445 acres of undeveloped pasture and timberland into a planned unit development (PUD) called Merritt Ranch, which would allow for 586 single-family homes.
The sprawling project is spearheaded by the developer, the Phillips Family Partnership, which is requesting a transition from Lake County agricultural designations to city-level estate residential zoning. The property is located south of County Road 48, west of North Austin Merritt Road and directly east of the Sumter County line. If approved, the development will fully integrate into Leesburg’s municipal footprint and tie into city utility networks.
City officials and residents have raised concerns regarding the substantial impact the 586-home addition will have on the local road grid. Adding a subdivision of this size is expected to inject thousands of daily vehicular trips onto County Road 48 and North Austin Merritt Road, two thoroughfares that currently handle rural and lower-density traffic volumes. To mitigate gridlock and safety hazards, city planning documents indicate that future development phases will trigger required traffic infrastructure improvements, potentially including dedicated turn lanes and updated signalization.
The Leesburg Planning Commission previously reviewed the application during a public hearing and forwarded a recommendation of approval to city leaders. The commission is scheduled to vote on sending the proposed development to the state for review after the first reading of the annexation, land-use amendments and PUD agreements during its Monday evening meeting. After the state review, the city may hold a public hearing and vote on the proposed development.