Commission Meeting Agenda Item

In the past year, the Town of Lady Lake has added a few hundred acres of land to the incorporated limits of our jurisdiction.  Much of the land that was annexed, has been designated for single-family and multi-family development, although some commercial entitlements have been established as well. During the public hearing process of many of the annexation and land use ordinances, residents of the Town, as well as a few elected officials, raised concerns regarding the resources that are required to support such growth.

Upon making recommendations for the approval of land use entitlements, staff does analyze each application to ensure that the Town does have the resources to support such growth on a case-by-case basis.  However, staff is of the opinion that it is appropriate at this point in time to perform a comprehensive analysis of the entitlements of the annexed properties within the Town of Lady Lake.  Such an analysis is necessary to assess how many lots are platted, yet undeveloped, and to determine the composition of land uses within the Town in terms of both acreage as well as percentages versus the whole of what has yet to be developed.

Growth Management staff would recommend prohibiting the filing of any annexation application for a period of six months to provide time to perform the aforementioned analysis of Town property. The prohibition would only bar the addition of new property into the Town’s incorporated limits; however, properties that have land use entitlements with the Town at present would be free to pursue those development rights during the six-month period, as well as to file for modifications of the entitlements on their land (i.e., rezone their property).  Upon completion of the analysis of currently incorporated land, Town staff will provide the results to the Town Commission to determine our next steps for the community.  Potential outcomes could result in commissioning a strategic development plan; land development regulations changes; changes to the comprehensive plan; the addition of infrastructure projects to the capital improvement plan; or a determination that further analysis is needed.

Staff recommends that the Town Commission provide the Growth Management Department, in conjunction with the Town Attorney, direction to proceed with drafting an ordinance for formal consideration to suspend the processing of annexation applications for a period of six months.