Groveland City Council recently approved an agreement that would allow a townhome community planned for over 100 units to move forward with development.
Set to rise on over 35 acres north of West Libby Road and west of Wilson Lake Parkway in Groveland, Lake Deacon Townhomes is planned for 104 townhome units and six detached single-family units.
The development agreement, approved by a 3-2 vote at the Groveland City Council meeting on Monday, establishes terms for potential roadway improvements to West Libby Road, stormwater facility upgrades, and the payment of water, wastewater, and other applicable impact fees.
Lakeland-based Highland Homes, a subsidiary of homebuilding entity Clayton Properties Group, is the developer of the project and co-owns the property with DW Partners, a New York-based investment bank and land banker.
The project received rezoning approval in 2023 and preliminary plat approval in 2024, with site development approval contingent upon the development agreement. Current plans indicate the project will be developed in a single phase.
“This project has gone through preliminary plat review, construction plan review, and they’re ready to build,” TJ Fish, Groveland Director of Transportation & Public Works, said. “So from that standpoint, that’s why we structured the agreement.”
Of the planned 104 townhomes, 64 will be attached townhomes and 32 will be attached townhomes with no front setback. Another eight townhomes will serve as ‘live-work’ units.
Planned roadway upgrades for the project include lengthening frontage for the property, adding a deceleration and right-turn lane at each entrance, and adding a main entrance aligned with American Elm Way on the south side of the property, with all improvements to be developed along West Libby Road.
Surrounding open space amenities for the development are set to include a dog park, three pocket parks and a greenway trail that crosses the northern end of the property.
The six single-family units and eight live-work units north of the rest of the development will be located steps away from nearby 28-acre Deacon Lake, which will offer scenic views and provide residents with quick access to the lake’s wildlife refuge and conservation areas.
As part of the development agreement, the City of Groveland has offered to allow reservation of water and wastewater capacity for one year from the date the agreement takes effect. Treatment capacity for the water and wastewater is reserved until water and sewer connection impact fees are paid to the City of Groveland.
“It’s not encumbered, which means completely tied up, until they pay for it,” Fish said of the project’s wastewater capacity. “They have one year to pay for it, otherwise it goes back into the pot.”
After one year, property owners must design, permit and construct water and wastewater utility service infrastructure to connect with existing city infrastructure. A separate water utility system for irrigation is also required.
Developers must also pay impact fees to support local efforts for improvements to transportation and mobility, water, wastewater, fire prevention, law enforcement, parks and recreation, schools, and administrative facilities prior to issuance of a building permit.
All required infrastructure must be completed, inspected, and approved by the City of Groveland before 50% of the residential units within Lake Deacon Townhomes can receive certificates of occupancy.
Just a few hundred feet north of the Lake Deacon Townhomes project, homebuilder Mattamy Homes is currently selling within its newly developed 437-home Rainwood subdivision.
Mattamy purchased the property for Rainwood from Orsi Development/Sunfield Homes for $9 million in early 2022.
Located on nearly 133 acres at the northwest corner of the intersection of Wilson Lake Parkway and Libby No. 3 Road, the project was developed in two phases and includes 270 single-family homes.
Of the single-family offerings, 51 homes are on 70-foot-wide lots, 114 homes are on 60-foot lots, and 105 homes are on 40-foot lots, with the largest lots on the outer boundary of the development. The development also includes 159 townhomes on 21-foot lots and another eight townhomes serving as ‘live-work units.’
Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at jwilkins@orlandosentinel.com or 407-754-4980. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.
