Leesburg considers annexing land for proposed Whispering Hills development off U.S. 27 – Daily Commercial

Frank Stanfield| For the Daily Commercial

LEESBURG City commissioners on Monday will vote on annexing a 1,088-acre parcel for the proposed 3,000-home Bella Vista at Whispering Hills development off U.S. 27and a 149-acre Dewey Robbins Road plot planned for 481 homes.

Lake County commissioners met with their city counterparts Thursday in hopes the city might consider requiring some natural buffers between the new homes in Whispering Hills and their rural neighbors, and lowering the housing density for the Hodges Reserve tract on Dewey Robbins.

The joint workshop at the community building in Venetian Gardenssometimes turned into a heated discussion with major philosophical differences.

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Residents who now enjoy pastures, lakes and wildlife said they felt invaded this summer when they learned of the $1.6 billion Whispering Hills plans that include a golf course, equestrian center, hotel and commercial properties. It is a joint venture with Ayana Holding, based in Dubai, and Marsan Real Estate Group in Orlando.

We have received a lot of public comment, said County Commissioner Leslie Campione.

The area is on the east side of U.S. 27, north of Power Line Road and west of Number 2 Road.

The area is now in a county rural protection area, which calls for vegetation boundaries between developments.

Tim McClendon, the countys planning and zoning director, also pitched what he calls rural conservation subdivisions, basically squeezing houses closer together to create more green space.

City Manager Al Minner called the idea of having fewer people per acre a rural utopia.

He said to accomplish such a thing would require thinking outside the box, and necessitate cities subsidizing the projects with utilities.

Campione said the conservation subdivisions have the same density, just arranged differently.

But the topic hit a nerve.

We didnt go out and seek growth, Minner said. Growth comes to us. It is the citys job to manage growth and if annexed, to provide services.

We are not going to stop growing, he said.

City Commissioner Dan Robuck III said reduced density is nice idea, but impractical.

A house built on one acre is a $500,000 home, he said.

What the area needs is affordable housing for nurses and firefighters, including multi-family homes. This is hard to find now, with homes selling for $300,000, he said.

We cant force people to build what they dont want.

County Commissioner Josh Blake agreed. Property owners have rights, he said.

Existing residents do not have a right to a perpetual view, he said.

The Whispering Hills and Hodges Reserve annexations are up to Leesburg, he said.

Campione said she hopes the city and county can engage in some future, collaborative master planning, including traffic.

She said there will be too much traffic on Dewey Robbins Road.

As for Whispering Hills, the developer has agreed to make several changes, including limiting traffic to the two-lane Number 2 Road to 41 homes, not hundreds.

Ive never seen a developer do that, Robuck said.

Access will now be limited to two points on U.S. 27. Before, County Road 48 would be an access point.

Its not perfect, said Karen West told the Daily Commercial of the Whispering Hills plans after the meeting, but she said it is much better now. She lives in the Water Wood subdivision in Yalaha.

Mayor John Christian said it would be unfair to ask the developers to wait three or four months to make changes now.

The city does a good job managing growth, he said, and growth is crucial for the city. Lake Square Mall needs business, the south end of the city contains rundown motels and other businesses, and the city needs more schools.

Leesburg hasnt had a new school in years. Parents are sending their children to private schools.

Mondays meeting is set for 5:30 p.m.at the community center at Venetian Gardens.

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Leesburg considers annexing land for proposed Whispering Hills development off U.S. 27 - Daily Commercial