Lakeland Development Plan Scaled Back in New Proposal

City of Lakeland considers land donation and reduced lot count in major subdivision.

The City of Lakeland may soon see a notable shift in one of its larger residential developments. During a meeting on Thursday, May 8, the Municipal Planning and Design Review Committee reviewed a new proposal from developer Louis Ricci of Lakeland Meadows that would further reduce the size of the subdivision and donate approxamtly 20 acres of undeveloped land to the city.

Originally approved with 367 lots in 2020, Lakeland Meadows was scaled down to 305 homes in 2023 after the Lakeland School Board acquired 23 acres from the developer for a future primary school site. Now, Ricci is proposing an additional reduction—to 251 residential lots—as well as the donation of the remaining undeveloped land north of U.S. Highway 70 and south of Old Brownsville Road to the City of Lakeland.

The revised plan is part of a broader effort to alleviate traffic congestion and better align with the city’s transportation and land use plans, which were shaped by public input. Key infrastructure improvements, including the Safety TIF (Tax Increment Financing) approved in 2024 and the extension of Seed Tick Road from Highway 70 to Old Brownsville Road, have supported this new vision.

Renaissance Development began the project in 2020, with homes built by Regency. The proposal now heads to the Board of Commissioners for further consideration. If approved, it shows the city’s committment to  balancing growth and infrastructure in Lakeland.

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