Manatee County continued to more closely scrutinize development proposals following the election of new county commissioners in the 2024 elections, though the board ultimately approved the projects before it.
Some commissioners have reviewed development proposals with increased skepticism, leading to several split votes during Manatee County’s public land use meeting on Tuesday. Approvals include more retail for the Lorraine Corners commercial development in Lakewood Ranch, final approval of several development project plats and a less contentious vote making necessary changes for creation of a new preserve near Myakka City.
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More retail slated for the Lorraine Corners commercial development in Lakewood Ranch
The commissioners voted 4-3 for changes to the Lorraine Corners South development in Lakewood Ranch requested by Casto Net Lease Properties LLC. The approval changes the master development plan for the Cypress Banks Development of Regional Impact by Schroeder Manatee Ranch, Inc., to allow for 50,000 square feet of additional commercial space.
The overall project spans 4,055.7 acres located about 2 miles east of Interstate 75, south of State Road 70. The previous plan allowed for construction of up to 5,835 dwelling units and 171,737 square feet of commercial space.
Dissenting commissioners raised concerns about traffic in the area, but the county staff noted that nearby road improvements are already underway and expected to be completed by 2027.
“At the end of the day, this is a corner that has a Wawa next to it; you are not dropping 50,000 square feet in the middle of a field someplace,” Manatee County Chairman George Kruse said in response to dissenting votes. “This is a high intensity commercial corner.”
More scrutiny, but approval for Manatee County development
Renewed vigor for scrutinizing development projects following the 2024 elections led to the close scrutiny, but ultimate approval, of final plats for development projects during Tuesday’s land use meeting.
Commissioners cast split votes for final plats for three development projects. They approved final plats for 103 single-family homes at the Saltmeadows development on the south side of S.R. 62 to the west of Sand Marsh Avenue in Parrish; a 5-2 vote for a final plat for a roadway for the Newport Isles development north of Buckeye Road and east of Grass Farm Road in Palmetto; and a 4-3 vote for a final plat for a mixed-use development called Buckhead Trails that spans 24.4 acres in Parrish near the Buckeye Road and Bending Creek Trail intersection.
Plat approval is one of the final steps in the development review process, but recently elected Commissioners Bob McCann and Carol Felts, along with third-year commissioner Jason Bearden, have voiced opposition to development projects proposed before local area traffic congestion issues and other concerns are addressed.
“The endgame is doing what’s right,” Bearden said. “Us maybe, saying, ‘You know what, we’re going to take a stand right now; maybe things will start changing. I don’t know how many months we are going to have to go through this before things start changing.”
County commissioners cleared the path for creation of the Triple Oak Preserve on 107.61 acres of county-owned land near Myakka City.
Tuesday’s votes made necessary changes to Manatee’s comprehensive plan to accommodate the preserve, and transmitted the changes to state agencies for review. The matter will return to the board at a future public meeting for final approval.
The county bouth the land at 30470 And 30480 Betts Road, for $3.6 million in July. It was the third tract of land purchased by Manatee County using funds from the Conservation and Parks Project bond referendum approved by voters in November 2020.…Read more by Jesse Mendoza
