SMR preps for market changes

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch is seeking modifications to its Northwest Sector Development of Regional Impact — changes that will give it more flexibility to adjust to real-estate trends.

Specifically, the developer is seeking to change its general development plan to exchange 239 single-family units for 339 multifamily units for the project, which is located generally east of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, south of the 44th Avenue extension, west of Lorraine Road and north of State Road 70.

“It provides a little more flexibility in the mix of single family versus multifamily on the property and a little more flexibility in locating them, to allow Schroeder-Manatee to respond to market demands better,” said Caleb Grimes, the attorney representing SMR on the project. “These changes have been done in a way that there are no increased changes (in density).”

The Manatee County Planning Commission voted July 11 to recommend the changes to the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, which will formally vote on the ordinance at its Aug. 8 meeting.

Other changes to the DRI include an update to the development order to reflect extensions that have been granted, among other modifications.

Grimes said there is no specific timeline for moving forward with construction of multifamily housing on the site, but SMR hopes to move forward “as soon as it practically could be done.”

The Northwest Sector DRI is approved in two phases, with specific approval in Phase 1 for 3,000 residential units, 200,000 square feet of retail space, 105,000 square feet of office space and 19.2 acres of parks.

Phase 2 has been approved conceptually, but specific approvals are contingent on the submittal of further transportation and air-quality analyses.

Projects already existing within the Northwest Sector DRI include the Central Park and Esplanade developments.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

IN OTHER BUSINESS

The Manatee County Planning Commission:

• Recommended approval of a rezone and a general development plan for 5.5 acres at the northwest corner of State Road 70 and Verna Bethany Road. Developer representative Misty Servia, of King Engineering, said the conceptual plan includes 30,000 square feet of neighborhood commercial uses on a site located immediately south of the Golden Verna Estates subdivision.

More than a dozen residents attended the meeting to oppose the project.

Servia said she had received support from several residents during and after a neighborhood meeting on the project, which resulted in modifications to the general development plan.

• Continued a rezone of 47 acres on the south side of State Road 64, at 2004 Pope Road, and a preliminary site plan to add 85 units to the proposed Eagle Trace subdivision.