Commission approves Leesburg Flex SPUD with added residential buffering

The City of Leesburg unanimously approved an ordinance (item 6A3) rezoning roughly 7.8 acres to a small planned unit development permitting light industrial 'flex' spaces, subject to amendments to protect nearby residents.

Dan Miller, planning staff, said the Leesburg Flex proposal would produce multi-tenant small-bay units for light manufacturing, distribution, contractor offices and indoor storage. The PUD calls for six buildings, a maximum height of two floors, 35% open space, dark-sky lighting and a phasing clause requiring substantial commencement within four years.

Developer Rick Blunt told the commission the project would create local jobs — “between 68 and 95 jobs” — and described typical unit sizes and uses. Nearby residents raised concerns about setbacks, noise, dust collection and potential nighttime activity. Larry Boyce and Ricky Howell asked for larger buffers and an eight-foot masonry wall along the residential edge to reduce visual and noise impacts.

In response, Blunt and the development team agreed to read into the PUD language making the residential-facing fence a minimum of eight feet and to add provisions restricting external dust collectors so ventilation would not be directed toward adjacent homes. Staff confirmed many higher-noise or outdoor industrial uses had been excluded from the allowed use list.

After the amendment to require an 8-foot fence where the project abuts residential properties (southeast corner) and the dust-collector ventilation language, the commission voted to approve the amended SPUD by unanimous roll call.

The ordinance requires the developer to make any necessary road upgrades as required by FDOT or Lake County and to tie utilities to city water and wastewater; the item now moves to final site-plan review and the developer must comply with the PUD’s phasing and building-setback requirements.

Vote tally on ordinance 683 (as amended): unanimous approval.