Neal proposes new 120-home Lakewood Ranch community

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Pat Neal, president of Neal Communities, hopes his proposal for a 120-home single-family subdivision becomes the newest Lakewood Ranch community.

At its April 3 land-use meeting, the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners will consider Neal’s proposal for a new subdivision at the northeast corner of the future extension of White Eagle Boulevard (formerly Pope Road) and a future segment of 44th Avenue East.

“This would continue a theme for Neal Communities,” Neal said. “Lakewood Ranch is the center of our universe. We are looking to buy any land we can to add to our success in Lakewood Ranch.”

Neal is purchasing the land from a private landowner, Loraine B. Riker, although the sale has not closed yet.

When the sale closes, and, pending approval of the preliminary site plan, Neal hopes to add the future, still unnamed subdivision as an “official” Lakewood Ranch community.

Neal said he is in negotiations with Schroeder-Manatee Ranch to secure the same designation for the new neighborhood.

In the new community, Neal will build one of 12 housing styles offered in Lakewood Ranch, but he is unsure which style or price range the community will have at this time.

The Manatee County Planning Commission unanimously endorsed the project and the associated rezone of 40.21 acres to planned development residential.

The community would have 2.98 homes per acre, which is consistent with the three dwelling units per acre allowed in the urban fringe future land-use category.

In other business:
• Commissioners will review a request by M/I Homes to modify its Creekwood community’s Development of Regional Impact to allow for an assisted-living facility.

To add the 150-bed assisted-living facility, M/I proposes to decrease the commercial square footage in Creekwood’s DRI by 10,000 square feet.

The assisted-living facility would be located on the north side of State Road 70, east of Interstate 75.
The Manatee County Planning Commission unanimously recommended the revised plan March 13.

• John Neal Homes is proposing a rezone of 39.71 acres for 76 single-family homes on the north side of Upper Manatee River Road, west of Rye Road.

The rezone would change the property’s zoning designation from general agriculture and residential single family to planned development residential.

The gross density of 1.91 dwelling units per acre is within the three units allowed in the urban fringe future land-use category.

The planning commission unanimously supported the plan March 13.

Contact Josh Siegel at [email protected].