News Briefs

+ Planning Board OKs Brookside Estates site plan
The Manatee County Planning Commission recommended approval of a preliminary site plan for Brookside Estates, a community of 63 single-family detached residences, during its meeting Nov. 14.
M/I Homes of Tampa plans to build the project on about 40 acres located about two miles north of State Road 64, on the south side of Upper Manatee River Road and one mile east of the curve, at 13010 Upper Manatee River Road. The item now will go before the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners for approval.

+ Smoothie King slated for Mall at UTC
Smoothie King is opening a location in the under-construction Mall at University Town Center.

On its website, Smoothie King lists the Mall at University Town Center, which is set to open in October, as a store location.

East County already has a Smoothie King at 11161 E. State Road 70.

Smoothie King has more than 700 locations across the world.

In a Nov. 8 press release related to the expansion, the company said it is planning aggressive expansions in the United States, Korea and Singapore.

“Smoothie King’s aggressive expansion is driven by our impressive results, a strong indication of the growing demand from consumers for our high-quality smoothies, vitamins, supplements and healthy snacks,” said Tom O’Keefe, president and chief operating officer of Smoothie King.

Confirmed tenants to the $315 million Mall at University Town Center include Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Dillard’s and American Eagle Outfitters.

Restaurants coming to the mall, which is being developed in a joint partnership by Taubman Centers and Benderson Development, include Brio Tuscan Grille and Seasons 52.

+ Officials lobby to secure Pentathlon World Cup
Local officials are working to bring the Olympic Pentathlon World Cup event to the East County.
Officials from USA Pentathlon were in the Sarasota/Bradenton area Nov. 14.

The pentathlon includes five categories of competition: a 200-meter freestyle swim, fencing, horse riding, shooting and a 3,000-meter run. Competitors score points based on their performance in each category.

Both the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and Visit Sarasota have pledged money toward bringing the event to the park.

Nathan Benderson Park recently won a bid to host the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

Meetings & agendas
Lakewood Ranch Community Development Districts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 and the Inter-District Authority Board Meetings — start at 8 a.m. Nov. 21, at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton