News Briefs

+ Lakewood Ranch Town Hall to be early-voting place
Lakewood Ranch Town Hall will be an early-voting location starting with the primary election in 2014. 

Town Hall Executive Director Eva Rey and Mike Bennett, Manatee County supervisor of elections, recently met to discuss the issue, which had been debated. 

Rey has assured that clubs and others who use Town Hall will not be displaced.

Previously, East County voters had to drive to the Supervisor of Elections office on 301 Boulevard for early voting. 

“The voters in Lakewood Ranch have been asking for an early-voting location in mid-county, and this will serve as one of the few that will be in place for next year’s election,” Bennett said. 

Town Hall will also be used as a polling place on the day of the primary vote and on Election Day in 2014. 

Bennett said the county will continue to expand early-voting locations as a result of a 2012 law that expands early voting location options.

+ Commissioners approve changes to Lakewood Centre
The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners approved changes to the general development plan for the Lakewood Centre, a three-phase project in Lakewood Ranch originally approved in 2008, at its land-use meeting Oct. 3. 

Commissioners voted 7-0 in favor of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch’s proposal for less commercial and office space in the first phase of the project and more residential housing than originally requested.

The plan calls for SMR to exchange 100,000 square feet of commercial space and 100,000 square feet of office space for 1,008 single-family homes. 

“The change allows us to move more rapidly in producing the residential product, which will give the critical mass needed for the commercial and office uses that follow,” said Todd Pokrywa, vice president of planning for SMR.

Original approvals for Lakewood Centre allowed for exchanges of land use to respond to changing market demand. 

County staff reviewed the proposed changes and determined this new mix does not exceed the impacts of the previous plan. 

Phase one of the project, located east of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, west of Pope Road and north of State Road 70, originally called for 900 residential units, 460,000 square feet of retail space, 458,000 square feet of office space, a 300-room hotel and 36 acres of parks.Development of the project’s first phase began with the construction of the 272-unit Lost Creek Apartments in 2011. 

The first phase, to be completed in 2022, will also encompass the 256-unit Creekside Apartments and the Intercoastal Medical Group’s new medical facility. 

The entire project will be finished in 2026.

SMR Farms named top grower
For a fifth straight year, SMR Farms has been selected as a Tropicana Grower of the Year for the 2012-13 citrus harvesting season.

The award, from Tropicana Products Inc., is based on “fruit quality, load quality, fruit variety mix and agribusiness management,” according to a media release from SMR. The award also takes into consideration harvesting methods, grove practices, labor programs and commitment to agricultural sustainability.

“It’s a great feeling to see our citrus operations recognized in this way,” said Mac Carraway, SMR Farms president, in the release. “In spite of the very real and difficult challenges we face in the citrus industry, our production team continues to do a great job.”

SMR Farms and Tropicana are partnering on a multi-year citrus fertilization project aimed at comparing traditional fertilizers with low-carbon-footprint products as part of Tropicana’s global sustainability efforts.

“We have a great relationship with Tropicana, and working with a top-line company like Tropicana certainly keeps us on our toes,” said Steve John, SMR Farms’ citrus production manager.

Meetings & Agendas
Manatee County Planning Commission Meeting — 9 a.m. Oct. 10, at the Manatee County Government Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton

Manatee County School Board Meeting — 5:45 p.m. Oct. 14, at 215 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton

Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Joint Meeting with Sarasota Commissioners (public transit) — 1:30 to 5 p.m. Oct. 15, at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto