Lee grants subdivision approval
Carlton Fletcher
LEESBURG — The Lee County Commission gave final approval to developer George McIntosh’s McIntosh Farms Subdivision just off U.S. Highway 82 Friday at a special called meeting Friday.
Planning and Engineering Director Bob Alexander recommended that the commission give approval to the 620-acre development whose future has hung in limbo while McIntosh sought final approval. The Lee Utilities Authority, which had issues with some of the sewage lines run in the development, gave its final approval in a called meeting Thursday.
“All the legal work that was required has been completed,” Alexander told the board. “It has been signed off on by the Utilities Authority, and after a review by staff, we recommend that you give final approval.”
Utilities Authority General Manager Chris Boswell confirmed that board had indeed granted McIntosh approval, and before the County Commission gave final approval the developer answered a number of commissioners’ questions.
Asked about greenspace and holding pond capacity at the development by Commissioner Dennis Roland, McIntosh said there could be as many as 30 acres dedicated to greenspace.
“We’re looking at a park, jogging space, a soccer field and possibly some Little League baseball fields,” the developer said. “Albany’s Dixie Youth Baseball has asked about building fields in the development, so that’s something we’re talking about.”
Asked by Roland if Lee County’s youth baseball program might not use the fields, McIntosh replied, “Well, (the Albany league) approached me, and they say they’re willing to put some money in the project.”
Commissioner Betty Johnson asked McIntosh about the proposed size of the houses to be built in the subdivision.
“Eighteen fifty (1,850 square feet) is the minimum,” the developer said. “There are several of them that we’ll close on in the next three weeks, so we’re anxious to get started.”
McIntosh said after the meeting he’s happy to close the book on the issues that have kept him from moving forward with the development off Oakland Parkway, across from First Baptist Church of Albany.
“It’s good to get this over with,” he said. “I don’t understand why I had to go through all this, but it’s done now. Now it’s time to move forward.”
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