2025 01 23 Summary Minutes Of The Regular Meeting Of The Planning Commission.pdf?t=202504141001220

SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION CITY HALL THURSDAY, JANUARY 23RD, 2025 - 4:30 P.M. The Planning Commission of the City of Leesburg held its regular meeting Thursday, January 23rd, 2025, at City Hall. Chairman Tim Sennett called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. The following Commission members were present: Tim Sennett - Chairman Nathaniel Sanders – Vice-Chairman Ted Bowersox Frazier Marshall John O’Kelley Ze’Shieca Carter Ken Simeone Darin Akkerman The following Commission member was absent: Stewart Kaplan City staff that was present included Dan Miller, Planning & Zoning Director, Sabrina Mitchell, Executive Assistant I, Kandi Harper, Deputy Director, Melissa Medders De Lo Santos, Planner and Dianne Yekel, Senior Planner. City Attorney Jennifer Cotch was also present. The meeting opened with an invocation given by Commissioner Bowersox, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Dan Miller informed the audience of the rules of participation and the need to sign the speaker’s registry. He also informed Commissioners and the audience that the City Commission meeting dates are tentatively scheduled.

Page 2 of 7 Thursday, January 23, 2025 MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19TH, 2024. Vice-Chairman Sanders moved to APPROVE the minutes from the December 19th, 2024 meeting. Commissioner Bowersox SECONDED the motion, which PASSED by a vote of 6-1. Jennifer Cotch, City Attorney stated to the Commission if you had time to review the minutes then you can vote. Sabrina Mitchell swore in staff as well as anyone wishing to speak. Chairman Sennett called for the first case under new business be brought forward. NEW BUSINESS 1) PUBLIC HEARING CASE # SPUD-24-212 – LEE SCHOOL – SMALL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA, REZONING APPROXIMATELY 4.87 +/- ACRES FROM SPUD (SMALL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT) TO SPUD (SMALL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT) FOR A PROPERTY GENERALLY LOCATED WEST OF LEE STREET, NORTH OF HERNDON STREET, EAST OF PERKINS STREET, AND SOUTH OF WEST LINE STREET, AS LEGALLY DESCRIBED IN SECTION 26, TOWNSHIP 19 SOUTH, RANGE 24 EAST, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. (CITY COMMISSION DATES ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR FIRST READING ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025 AND SECOND READING IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, MARCH 10TH, 2025) (Lee School SPUD) Dan Miller introduced case number #SPUD-24-212 – Lee School – Small Planned Unit Development into the record and entered the exhibits into the record with maps and photo exhibits including aerial, zoning, future and surrounding land use, wetlands/flood zone maps, CRA maps, staff summary, and staff recommendations. Dan Miller gave a background and explanation of the subject property, location, zoning, requests, and went over PUD requirements. Kandi Harper, Deputy Director utilized a power point presentation to demonstrate the area of the proposed site for the cases. Department Review Summary: This case was sent out to all the different City departments, Lake County Public Works, and Lake County School Board, from the City Departments; no substantive comment from the City departments. Lake County School Board comments

Page 3 of 7 Thursday, January 23, 2025 noted; comments read into the record. Lake County Public Works no comments, and Public responses – we received no responses; neighborhood meeting held on site from the State of Florida and City of Leesburg notice requirements, posted signs, and newspaper. Dan Miller read the Staff Recommendations into the record for the case; Staff supports the case; recommended approval, Dan Miller introduced the applicants for the record. Chairman Sennett if the Commission have any question of Staff. Mike Rankin with LPG, proud business owner in the City of Leesburg on Main Street with his wife, representing the applicant and stated this site goes back eleven years; redeveloping the site, City patiently awaited; for Lee School, preserve the Bldg., code requirements, Bldgs. required; utilities cut, pad ready site, went before Historic Board; support demolishing the Bldg., filled out permit; Bldgs. come down, City; great job on extending flexibility, talking with Beacon; for some time; participation, parking, working to potential; Beacon use some if possible; all of the facility, parking maintained inside of the Bldg.; no parking outside; only external, amenities, develop a walkable environment; downtown, business owner downtown; loved to see more people; live downtown, product that brings that, fully supports; PUD presented, ask to support City Staff; recommendations, quickly get; to City Commission, rapidly; building project, held community meeting; great bit of time, talking to the community; about Lee School, a lot of emotions; stabilized area, 300 trespass issues; solved the problem, asking on behalf of the owner; approve this PUD; move project forward. Mike Rankin addressed comments from the Commission and citizens’ and stated the community meeting was held prior to Christmas, posted signs; in two different locations, park car walks into the Bldg., with this COMP plan yes; no different then any other development of this nature; not architect, private property; develop, calls received; upset about fence, have facades; take time, Historic significance; to the Bldgs., several architectural features, presented to Historic Preservation Board; decision, 5-0, can’t get same density with three story Bldg., trying to fit; fully knowing community takes on project, community meeting; most were phone calls, most opposition of the project, walked through; project, most of the conversations; do something with the property; with existing Bldgs., posted meeting; pictures, it’s our strong desire to work with Beacon, market rate apartments; not low income, the structure doesn’t look like design in Ocala; wanted it to resemble Lee School, property fenced; no trespassing, renderings; examples of what the facades would be, won’t come back with three story; ready to move on with Lee School, a lot of time into, something built there; Beacon can utilize, and folks in the community; that wants to live downtown, market drive, cost of development, community park; interest, four story, make it look; like Lee School. Commissioners’ and Dan Miller discussed if development doesn’t show up; in four years; Dan Miller gave a brief explanation on treated in the terms of the PUD for clarification purposes; PUD zoning; doesn’t move forward; in four years; property treated under the terms RE-1; one acre per unit, build; or restricted, come back for

Page 4 of 7 Thursday, January 23, 2025 zoning, Planning Commission/City Commission have right; approve RE-1 or give new PUD, community meeting, went over conceptual site plan, proposed parking space requirement; Dan Miller went over the parking space requirement for clarification purposes; 7 handicap spaces; Dan Miller went over Code requirements, footprint; park car, walk into Bldg., no drive through, design; different, designs; went through Historic Preservation Board, been presented to Board; decision, the brick, replication of Lee School; same density, bigger footprint, three story Bldg. comment on community meetings; comments prior to demolition of the Bldg., since the demo, signs for community meeting; a lot of people from the church wanted to attend the meeting, adequate studies done, existing infrastructure; Dan Miller stated part of the zoning review process; that’s part of what the departments are in charge of doing; given project, number of units, size of Bldg.; if problem; let us know, no comments; no improvements; infrastructure, Beacon expansion; effect of have these apartments; percentage on rentals, make decision; think of it as Beacon not being there; open for anybody, Beacon being apart of; interest there, seen Beacon product; secure; to put stipulation in there that Beacon can be a part of that. Jennifer Cotch, City Attorney replied no ma’am, City’s Code multi-family zoning; density per acre; Dan Miller replied it depends on the FLU; 25 highest; downtown area, how many stories; Lee School; Dan Miller replied Lee School; two floors, very high ceilings; same height of three story Bldg.; two floor Bldg., architectural impact; three floor Bldg., Staff discuss three story Bldg.; Dan Miller replied yes ma’am, renderings bottom; three story building, above; four story; misleading, 1st floor at Lee School; 8 to 10’ appears to be three story structure, couldn’t come back; with three story, 1st floor; not ground level, floors downtown; Dan Miller replied six floors downtown, US Bank; tallest one; concern; four story in neighborhood, PUD zoning clarification; Dan Miller went over PUD zoning classification to the Commission, impact; north side, 50’ away, side of road; Dan Miller replied the maximum height within the PUD is 55’; four story; 40’, mechanical equipment, within PUD requirement, approving; site plan; Dan Miller replied approving the site plan; conceptually, all site plans; conceptual, entire structure; moved southward, great suggestion, more green area; north of Bldg. itself, numbers don’t work, bigger footprint; three story; same density, like idea; resemble Lee School, four story, over on green space; Dan Miller replied this project is fine on green space requirement, moving the Bldg., pulling the pool/playgrounds; south 20’ won’t change green space; 25 per floor, applicant to respond; possibility of request, keep; 35% green space, quite dual able; not engineer, comfortable approving project with Dan Miller speaking with Staff, requests or come down; Bldg., looking at square footage; Dan Miller replied so many options; need designer, happy to do whatever the Commission ask Staff to do, neighbors; live there, be friendly, bring it down; best for neighborhood; approve density; 102, based upon; three story structure, still Historic District; affecting character of the community, 55’; tip top part of the structure. Chairman Sennett closes discussion from the Public.

Page 5 of 7 Thursday, January 23, 2025 Richard Killion Vice-President for Advancement at Beacon College 105 East Main Street Leesburg, Florida and stated speaking in support of the project, very impressed with the design, some of my colleagues; went to Ocala and looked at similar design; developer built; how it looks/feel, upgrade interest to us, 465 students on campus; subset 40 to 45 students off campus, some downtown; some in various parts of the City, always get calls from parents; off campus housing, saw design; very interested and see ourselves partaking of. Richard Killion addressed comments from the Commission and stated looking right now at how or if we can expand, students; learning/attention issues, teach different; learn different, faculty/staff count; 200 people, student population; 500 to 515; abnormal, raise student population; ripple effect, everything we do, process; 2030 strategic plan, housing; issue, institution; very interested in to support any growth, strong demand; off campus housing; students/parents as well, facility; ½ mile from our campus; student count; takes some time to look at. Chairman Sennett stated if the Commission have any questions of the applicant or if anyone in the Public would like to speak on the case. Citizens’ comments were based on: lives next door to proposed property, significant concerns of project; four story Bldg. with 102 units, lot of people/traffic, not best use; of property, beautiful Historic neighborhood, not improving; site line, space; used by a lot of people, green space, dogs/children, being proposed; not best for neighborhood, reconsidering site lines, feel; important to neighborhood, didn’t see sign posting; community meeting, just moved; three months ago, consider; approving plan; construction, cause congestion, proper infrastructure, transportation, close to 400 people; in five acre area, zoning; developed for park, recreation facility, dog park, skate park, nature preserve; bring traffic to City, bring business, right across the street from proposed property, not fully opposed to project, attended community meeting, saw sign, biggest concern; imposing structure, Line Street; narrow, tallest structures; in downtown Leesburg, lower density, Beacon college; great neighbors, property; change hand or sold; concerns; expected out of the structure, seen Ocala structure; renderings, brick beautiful; didn’t look like that. Chairman Sennett closes discussion, entertained a motion, and then the voting took place. Chairman Sennett called for a vote on the first case. Commissioner O’Kelley made a motion to APPROVE case # SPUD-24-212 – LEE SCHOOL approve a density of apartment complex, 102 units providing site plan and design can be done with three story structure – SMALL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT Commissioner Carter SECONDED the motion. The roll call vote was: Commissioner Sanders Yes Commissioner Akkerman No Commissioner Bowersox No Chairman Sennett Yes Commissioner Carter Yes Commissioner Marshall Yes

Page 6 of 7 Thursday, January 23, 2025 Commissioner O’Kelley Yes Five yeas, two nays, the Planning Commission approved case # SPUD-24-212 – LEE SCHOOL – SMALL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT. Dan Miller stated for the record to the Commission a summary that when this goes to City Commission it will come with a recommendation from Planning Commission of 102 units and reduce size to three floors; all other conditions remain intact. Chairman Sennett called for the second under new business be brought forward. 2) PUBLIC HEARING CASE # CUP-24-388 – MONTCLAIR DUPLEXES – CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT A REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THREE DUPLEXES IN THE EXISTING R-3 (HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL) ZONING DISTRICT ON 0.98 +/- ACRES GENERALLY LOCATED SOUTH OF MONTCLAIR ROAD AND EAST OF NORTH LONE OAK DRIVE, AS LEGALLY DESCRIBED IN SECTION 22, TOWNSHIP 19 SOUTH, RANGE 24 EAST, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. (FINAL DECISION IS BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION). (Montclair Duplexes CUP) Dan Miller introduced case number #CUP-24-388 – Montclair Duplexes – Conditional Use Permit into the record and entered the exhibits into the record with maps and photo exhibits including aerial, zoning, future and surrounding land use, wetlands/flood zone maps, CRA maps, staff summary, and staff recommendations. Dan Miller gave a background and explanation of the subject property, location, zoning, and requests. Melissa Medders De Los Santos, Planner utilized a power point presentation to demonstrate the area of the proposed site for the cases. Department Review Summary: This case was sent out to all the different City departments from our City Electric; comments read into the record, otherwise no substantive comments from the City Departments. Lake County School Board comments read into the record. Lake County Public Works had no comments. Public responses – we received one public response and a meeting with citizen; asked for a fence; added to conditions on them CUP from the State of Florida and City of Leesburg notice requirements, posted signs, and newspaper. Dan Miller read the Staff Recommendations into the record for the case; Staff supports the case; recommended approval. Chairman Sennett stated if the Commission have any questions of Staff or the applicant. Chairman Sennett stated to the applicant if he had anything to add. Markilo Brown stated he didn’t have anything to add; and thanks, the Commission for

Page 7 of 7 Thursday, January 23, 2025 hearing the case. Chairman Sennett closes discussion from the Public, entertained a motion, and then the voting took place. Chairman Sennett called for a vote on the second case. Vice-Chairman Sanders made a motion to APPROVE case # CUP-24-388 – MONTCLAIR DUPLEXES – CONDITIONAL USE Commissioner Bowersox SECONDED the motion. The roll call vote was: Commissioner Akkerman Yes Commissioner Bowersox Yes Chairman Sennett Yes Commissioner Carter Yes Commissioner Marshall Yes Commissioner O’Kelley Yes Commissioner Sanders Yes Seven yeas, no nays, the Planning Commission approved case # CUP-24-388 – MONTCLAIR DUPLEXES – CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. DISCUSSION ITEMS ANNOUNCEMENTS Dan Miller announced to the Commission a reelection of a Chairman and Vice-Chairman needs to be done at the next meeting in February or March; also stated the 2045 City Comprehensive Plan was approved by Florida Commerce; 30-day challenge period, recognize Staff, and will be distributed out before the next meeting; very happy and appreciative of the support that this Commission gave to Staff and to our consultant. Commissioner Marshall entertained a motion to adjourn and Commissioner Bowersox seconded the motion. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 5:51 p.m. _________________________________ Timothy H. Sennett, Chairman ____________________________________ Sabrina Mitchell, Executive Assistant I