Lake County staff flags Merritt Ranch annexation; commissioners consider formal objection

Planning & Zoning Director Mike Fitzgerald told the board that the Merritt Ranch annexation involves 445 acres south of County Road 408 and that the city's proposed zoning would allow roughly 523 single-family homes—changing county density from one unit per five acres to about 1.17 units per acre under the city's future land use.

"Staff does not have the record of being noticed 10 days prior to the advertising that this was going forward for annexation," Fitzgerald said, recommending the board consider an objection. Commissioner Smith moved to object and to send an immediate notice to Leesburg that the county intends to object and may pursue a legal challenge based on lack of notification. Commissioners also requested additional details about surrounding densities, traffic impacts, and whether the annexation would add to countywide housing allocations.