Council-approved rezoning clears way for 300-home Lennar development at Briar Leaf

La Porte's economic development office told the Board of Public Works and Safety that a rezoning approved by the City Council clears the way for a residential development of roughly 300 homes by Lennar at the former Briar Leaf Golf Course.

Bert Cook of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership said the project "is 300 homes" and emphasized the development is intended to address local housing need rather than bring outside residents. He told the board the developer will shoulder infrastructure costs and that "there's no incentive" from the city.

Cook said the project could be the largest residential development in La Porte in decades and cited comparable Lennar projects the city team visited. He noted the cost of building housing today and described the project as offering options that could allow current residents to move into newer units and free up more affordable housing stock.

The board did not take formal action on the project at this meeting; Cook referenced the recent City Council zoning decision as the decisive step. The discussion included encouragement from members that the project be monitored as engineering, utilities and permitting move forward.

Next steps identified by staff include detailed engineering review and coordination with utilities and the plan commission as the developer advances design and infrastructure work.