SMR responds to residents' concerns

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Schroeder-Manatee Ranch President and CEO Rex Jensen doesn’t back away from a battle easily.

And, in this case, he’s fighting for the resident who doesn’t yet exist.

As residents of Watercrest and neighboring communities rally against a proposal by SMR, Lakewood Ranch’s developer, to allow construction of seven-level residential buildings on Lakewood Ranch Main Street, Jensen has drafted a letter to the Manatee County Commission arguing his case for the project and challenging opposition point by point.

“Edgewater didn’t want (SMR to build Watercrest); I fought for them,” Jensen said. “I’m going to fight for these people, too. The new guy isn’t here to fight for himself. He has a right to the lifestyle just like the ones who already live here.”

Jensen said he plans to submit the letter to commissioners later this week, so it is part of the public record before the item goes to the board for a vote Nov. 6.

“The weight of the opinion ought to come from us because we oversee the overall project and the people who put the money behind the project,” Jensen said.

Homeowners opposing the change to the University Lakes Development of Regional Impact have said the buildings, which would be located behind Lakewood Ranch Cinemas, would be out of place in a more suburban-style activity center (see story on page 3A). The site previously had been approved for a five-level building — one story higher than at Watercrest.

They also worry traffic from the project, which likely will include about 90 units, will compound existing traffic problems on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and the surrounding road network, particularly with the opening of The Mall at University Town Center and The Venue Apartments across the street.

Jensen said some comments residents have made are misleading.

SMR has mitigated traffic impacts, per its existing DRI approval, and it is not adding any units to the overall DRI; rather it is shifting them from one area of the DRI to another. Plus, the Main Street area always has been intended for urban-style uses, he says.

“Since 1992, that site has been planned and permitted as an urban center,” Jensen said.

Jensen said adding housing to the Main Street parcel will help businesses on Main Street function better and allow people to drive shorter distances for services.

“To really cut to the chase, comments have been made that views will be ruined by a seven-story building, but a five-story building would not,” Jensen wrote, noting Watercrest buildings are between 1/10th of a mile and one-half mile from the site.

“From either distance, the visual impact of the difference of two stories is not as devastating as the opponents would have one believe,” he said. “It should be noted, for the record, that the developer of this project is the same developer who developed Watercrest. They did a superb job with Watercrest and will do the same here.”

Jensen also argued that traffic on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard will not be adversely impacted. The proximity of the housing to potential work sites should help improve traffic. Plus, the proposed project will not be fully occupied for at least three years.

Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, he said, operates at Level of Service C, the highest level of service possible, and has plenty of capacity remaining for other projects.

Although traffic congestion on University Parkway impacts residents of Lakewood Ranch, the traffic problem there is not caused by Lakewood Ranch.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].