Planners recommend new home for Bulldogs

MANATEE COUNTY — As Kendall Brown’s gaze swept over a bare spot at Lakewood Ranch Park, where the East Manatee Bulldog’s double-wide trailer once sat, he couldn’t help but have something to smile about.

After more than a year of waiting, the youth football and cheerleading program soon may have a permanent home.

The Manatee County Planning Commission, an advisory board to the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, on March 10 recommended approval of improvements to Lakewood Ranch Park, which includes a new 5,000-square-foot building for the league. Commissioners are set to hear the item April 7.

“It gives the youth football league presence — we’ll always be here,” said Brown, the organization’s president. “It’s going to give the families of the league (a home).”

Manatee County already has contributed $100,000 toward the project, and the Bulldogs need to raise about $70,000 more to cover their portion of the project — about $90,000. However, Brown said he expects the amount needed will be reduced greatly with the support of Bulldog supporters, who will pitch in with labor and skills.

The facility will include a large concession area, restrooms, storage space, a merchandise shop, offices and a large meeting room.

A large overhang at the front of the building will provide a picnic area for families, as well as a shelter when inclement weather arises, Brown said.

The organization plans to break ground by early April and have the building completed within five months, he said.

Once complete, Brown said the Manatee County Parks and Recreation Department also will be able to use the space for meetings for youth and recreation leagues out east, rather than holding them at G.T. Bray Park in Bradenton.

Additional Lakewood Ranch Park improvements recommended for approval were additional parking lots and upgraded storm water facilities.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

IN OTHER BUSINESS
The Manatee County Planning Commission recommended approval of:
• Woodbrook, a mixed-use community on 95 acres at the southeast corner of Lockwood Ridge Road and Honore Avenue. Provident National Property Group is seeking a rezone and preliminary site plan for 213 lots for single-family detached residences, and a commercial component with 28,800 square feet of space.

• Rosedale addition, a 237-acre expansion of Rosedale located south of the future 44th Avenue Extension, west of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and east of the Rosedale Highlands subdivision. A preliminary site plan shows 475 single-family detached lots.

Manatee County Planning Manager Lisa Barrett said the project’s developer received rezone and preliminary site plan approval for 306 units and a nine-hole golf course in 2006, but now is seeking to construct homes only.

• Wilderness Crossing (also known as Maple Leaf), a 68-home project on the north side of Upper Manatee River Road, about 1.5 miles west of Rye Road Northeast. Developers are seeking preliminary site plan approval for 68 single-family detached homes on 37 acres at 14641 Upper Manatee River Road.