County aids SMR in Lakewood Ranch expansion

Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch recently signed an impact fee arrangement with Manatee County that could pave the way for future development in Lakewood Ranch north of State Road 70.

Potential projects include SMR's first age-targeted community, an apartment complex and a mixed-used project. SMR has agreed to widen Lakewood Ranch Boulevard from two to four lanes from State Road 70 to State Road 64 as part of the deal, at an estimated cost of $2 million.

The agreement was made possible through an ordinance approved by Manatee County commissioners Sept. 14.

The ordinance will allow SMR to use impact fee credits as payment for other infrastructure projects.

The largest potential project SMR has planned for the area is Lakewood Centre, which consists of millions of square feet of office and retail space and more than 3,600 homes. The site is a 700-acre parcel at the corner of State Road 70 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

Plans at Lakewood Centre also include an apartment complex and an age-targeted community, the latter of which will join nearby Central Park at Lakewood Ranch in targeting empty nesters and homebuyers 55 and up.

The project, even with the agreements, will still go to the Manatee County Commission for full site plan approval.

— Pam Eubanks, correspondent