SMR expands Country Club East community

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch is moving forward with plans to expand its Country Club East community.

The developer not only is under final site plan approval for two new neighborhoods in the development, but it also broke ground Wednesday on a new rustic-architecture-themed clubhouse in the community.

The clubhouse, to be located at 16215 Players Drive, Lakewood Ranch, will be 27,889 square feet, including 15,439 square feet under air conditioning and 5,400 square feet in outdoor covered areas.
The facility will have a driving range, putting course and practice facilities, a private dining room, a large exposed event-style kitchen and a wine area for special member parties, among other features.

The club overlooks holes No. 9 and No. 18. There will also be an area for stadium seating for tournaments at those holes.

The project will take a little more than one year to complete.

SMR’s Vice President of Planning Richard Bedford said SMR and Manatee County are working to finalize final site plans for Country Club East’s two newest neighborhoods: Whittlebury and Prestbury.

Bedford said he expects SMR will begin construction on the project in the first quarter.

“Final plans are ready for review by Manatee County,” he said. “Once we go through that comment phase, we’ll be ready. We don’t sit around.”

Approvals include 190 single-family homes for property located between The Ritz-Carlton Members Club to the north and the existing Country Club East project to the south. The future del Webb community lies immediately east of the site.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].