Sarasota County Approves Rezoning for Major Expansion of Lakewood Ranch

Excerpt from Article on Sarasota County Development

U.S. Rep. Greg Steube emphasized the importance of community engagement, stating, “All of these commissioners are elected by the people. If you are as frustrated as I am, I encourage people that are watching to reach out to their county commissioners.”

In a recent vote, the Sarasota County Commission approved a controversial rezoning of 550 acres in eastern Sarasota County, specifically between University Parkway and Fruitville Road, with a vote tally of 4-1.

This initiative, termed “Lakewood Ranch Southeast,” aims to construct 5,000 new homes across a sprawling 4,100 acres. The plan has raised eyebrows due to the staggering increase in housing density—over 3,000%—in an area that Steube argues is unprepared for such growth.

Steube voiced concerns regarding infrastructure, insisting, “They are not putting the necessary infrastructure in place before that to ensure that the residents are going to be able to live, work and play in a reasonable way.” He noted that although some commissioners claimed they were constrained by previous decisions made by prior boards, this should not excuse inaction.

“If the previous commission did entitle that in 2022, OK, fine. Then put the necessary infrastructure in place to support it. That is your responsibility,” he urged.

Despite the criticism, some county commissioners expressed enthusiasm about the project’s potential for the region. Commissioner Teresa Mast commented, “People who I know nationally and countrywide will seek this out because of the historic credibility [of] Lakewood Ranch.”

Key Information

• Commission Vote: Sarasota County Commission voted 4-1 to rezone 550 acres.
• Project Name: Lakewood Ranch Southeast.
• Homes Planned: 5,000 new homes on 4,100 acres.
• Density Increase: Over 3,000% increase in housing density.
• Concerns Raised: Lack of necessary infrastructure to support the new development.
• Commissioner Comments: Mixed reactions; some optimistic about the growth potential.