Baugh can't discuss the seven-story plan

District 5 Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh is making the rounds, meeting with residents and urging them to provide her input on any and all issues. Except one.

At a Sept. 18 Palm-Aire Country Club meeting, she warned residents there’s one issue she cannot discuss when she hosts a Town Hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 1, at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch: changes to the University Lakes Development of Regional Impact.

Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch has requested changes to its University Lakes DRI that would allow construction of up to seven stories on the Lakewood Ranch Main Street parcel.

The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners will address the agenda item at its Oct. 2 meeting.
But because the agenda item is a quasi-judicial matter, Baugh can listen to resident concerns, but she cannot respond to residents before the matter is heard.

Said Baugh: “I know you want my input on it, but you’ll have to wait until Oct. 2.”

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].