Lake Margaretta Estates, a proposed 196-acre subdivision in Leesburg from Orlando-based developer American Land Development, won unanimous approval Monday from the Leesburg City Commission, four months after a split planning commission opposed it.

Located south of County Road 48, just west of Howey-in-the-Hills, Lake Margaretta Estates could include up to 586 detached single-family homes, according to plans cited in a report in Growthspotter.

Developer Robert Zlatkiss sought to annex 93 acres to the city and change the land use from its current Rural Transition classification to Estate Residential, which would max out development in the area at four units per acre. He has also applied for rezoning to Planned Unit Development.

Approximately 103 acres of the 196-acre property is already within the city limits. That acreage has city zoning districts of agricultural and estate density residential, with a future land use of estate.

The project is set to be built in two phases, with development of 270 units in Phase 1, and 316 units within Phase 2. At least 35 percent of the total project area would be green space.

Recreational requirements stipulate the PUD must include at least 2.7 acres devoted to two separate recreation areas, a swimming pool and cabana, on-site parking, gazebo and children’s playgrounds.

There are also requirements for a separate dog park and trails around planned retention areas, with current development plans indicating the subdivision could contain up to five small neighborhood parks.

Back in May, the Leesburg Planning Commission voted 3-2 against the project and its accompanying rezoning — despite a recommendation for approval from the city’s planning and zoning department — citing concerns about traffic on CR 48 and increased density.

City commissioners shared some concerns about access to surrounding roads but ultimately voted 4-0 to approve the development with some minor changes, such as the addition of fountains or aerators to the ponds across the subdivision.

Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at jwilkins@orlandosentinel.com or 407-754-4980. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.