Commission approves 1,999-home project

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Lakewood Ranch’s expansion toward its eastern boundary will continue.

The Lakewood National and Bridgewater East developments will bring a combined 1,999 homes to a 1,389-acre property north of State Road 70 and east of Premier Sports Campus.

Manatee County commissioners approved a general development plan by Lennar for the projects Aug. 6.

The northern part of the site, dubbed Lakewood National, will be a gated 36-hole golf course community with 477 single-family homes and 1,110 multifamily units developed in two phases.

Divided by the Braden River, Bridgewater East will be farther south, with 412 single-family homes.

 “We’re pleased with the approval, and we think it’s a development similar to what Lennar has done elsewhere in the county and look forward to having a successful project.” Lennar attorney Caleb Grimes said. 

Some residents of Panther Ridge, including Justin Norwood, have raised objections to the proposal, saying traffic on State Road 70 is already dangerous at times and will get worse with the addition of nearly 2,000 homes, plus the 1,300 homes approved for the neighboring Del Webb project.

District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said the Florida Department of Transportation already is evaluating conditions on State Road 70 because of traffic accidents and fatalities there. At the meeting, she pledged to work on the issue and invited Norwood to join her.

“Although the decision did not go as we had hoped, I want to thank Commissioner Baugh for an invitation to work with her and the FDOT to improve the public safety and the traffic situation on east State Road 70,” Norwood said after the meeting. “In the long run, I believe that safer roads combined with a thoughtful development of Lakewood National and Bridgewater East will improve home values in Panther Ridge.”

Baugh said she believes the Lakewood National/Bridgewater East project will be a “beautiful” project once complete and likes that it is 69% open space. Developers also made sure not to place homes immediately abutting the Panther Ridge community.