Homes, town center coming to Palmer Ranch

DiVosta Homes, a division of Pulte Homes, took the first step toward building a new 350 single-family home community in Palmer Ranch last week by holding a community workshop Wednesday, May 23.

DiVosta Homes officials told approximately 30 people last week at Covenant Life Church on McIntosh Road that Sarasota County’s Planning Board and, then, Sarasota County commissioners would review the project in late summer or early fall.

The community workshop was the first of two workshops required by the county as part of the county planning process.

DiVosta Homes is under contract with Palmer Ranch Holdings to purchase a 145-acre parcel near Interstate 75 and Central Sarasota Parkway for its housing project.

The gated community will include an amenity center with a pool, fitness center and meeting room space.
The housing project was dealt a setback earlier this year, however, when it was discovered the county still needed to remove an interchange project that was originally planned in the vicinity of Central Sarasota Parkway and I-75.

To speed up the process, DiVosta Homes is paying administrative costs to help the county amend Comprehensive Plan language, which currently states that an interchange should be built there. An interchange would be a deathblow to any housing projects in the area, because interchanges require surrounding properties to be zoned for commercial buildings, such as fast-food restaurants.

County staff will now work to remove any and all references of an interchange at Central Sarasota Parkway.
Taylor Morrison, meanwhile, also plans to build approximately 260 homes in the area, which will include a clubhouse with amenities for residents.

Next to the new housing developments, Palmer Ranch Holdings has plans for a 100,000-square-foot community town center concept that would include an anchor tenant such as a Publix or Whole Foods supermarket.

Residents were more interested in the town center last week, inquiring what kinds of commercial stores were coming to their community.

Palmer Ranch Holdings LLC Vice President Justin Powell said there were no firm commitments for tenants but confirmed for residents the town center would not house a “big-box” store such as a Walmart or Target.

“We understand your wants and needs don’t include such a large tenant,” Powell said. “That’s why we dropped the original plans that called for a 200,000-square-foot town center. The biggest user you’re looking at here is a grocery anchor and a restaurant.”