Ruby Lake developer proposes non-residential use on parcel

County leaders held a community meeting Tuesday, Oct. 25, related to a proposal to add commercial and/or office uses to a previously approved residential development in Dr. Phillips. 

The applicant, Adam Smith, of VHB, is requesting to change the future land-use designation of a 16.72-acre parcel from planned development Planned Development-Low-Medium Density Residential (PD-LMDR) to Planned Development-Commercial/Low-Medium Density Residential (PD-C/LMDR). The parcel is located west of Palm Parkway, east of Lemon Lake Boulevard and south of Fenton Street and the proposed Daryl Carter Parkway Extension. Additionally, the subject property is a portion of the 244.86-acre Ruby Lake Ranch Planned Development.

Because the subject property is part of the established Ruby Lake PD, it already is entitled for the development of up to 156 townhouses. The applicant’s requested future land-use change would allow for the development of a project that features 156 townhouses and/or 200,000 square feet of office space and/or commercial space, said Senior Planner Jennifer DuBois.

“They’re asking for the flexibility to include non-residential uses within that portion of the Ruby Lake Ranch PD,” DuBois said, adding the proposed change also allows for a mix of both residential and non-residential use. “They could develop the property as townhomes. They could develop the remainder (of the property) that’s not developed as townhomes for commercial (use) and/or office not to exceed the 200,000 square feet.” 

Smith is requesting the change because of developments near the property. One of those proposed developments is Unicorp’s O-Town West project, which is adjacent to the Ruby Lake PD. 

“Sitting on the sidelines watching that (proposed development), we were just thinking, ‘Let’s provide some flexibility for our project to maybe use some commercial use within this corner (of the Ruby Ranch Lake PD) as well,” Smith said. “It could be retail; it could be office; it could still be residential.”

DuBois added the requested change is retaining the low-medium density residential designation, so there would not be any additional density impacts outside of what is already approved for the property.

District 1 County Commissioner Betsy VanderLey said just because the applicant is making the request does not mean it will get approved.

“They’re asking to reserve some uses that they think might be appropriate for the developing patterns that seem to be developing around them that are not yet approved either,” VanderLey said. “That’s why they’re keeping their residential use, because if something falls apart on some of the potential developments around them, they’re going to revert back to plan A.”