Plans for a proposed town center for Palmer Ranch East — a 2,351-acre tract of land identified as a future village on Sarasota County’s 2050 plan — were revealed at a March 11 virtual neighborhood workshop, hosted by Stantec.
The land, encompassing nine parcels, is under the control of Palmer Ranch developer Hugh Culverhouse Jr., through McCann East Limited Partnership as a project dubbed Palmer Ranch East and Palmer Ranch 2400 MDO.
The development was included in Sarasota County’s 2050 plan when it was approved in 2002.
“This is actually the last piece in that 2050 plan to be approved under that process,” Jim Paulmann, the project manager for Stantec, told the audience attending the neighborhood workshop via Microsoft Teams or by telephone.
Neighborhood workshops are not public hearings.
Typically, they are the last step before an application is filed for a project. They give the developer an opportunity to inform neighbors about the proposal, discuss the concept plan and seek comments.
A draft development concept plan covered in an Aug. 20, 2024 neighborhood workshop did not include information on the proposed town center.
The March 11 neighborhood workshop was the second one hosted on the proposal.
What could be built at Palmer Ranch East?
The master development concept plan for the 2,351-acre tract, which is known as Palmer Ranch 2400 MDO, allows for a significant amount of open space, starting with a 200.7-acre conservation easement and 651 acres as an alternative greenway buffer.
Only about 1,075 acres are targeted for development.
Palmer Ranch East LLC, the corporation overseeing the land, is seeking to build a total of 5,702 homes — that includes 1,000 units allowed for the town center, which is above the two units per acre allowed in the village plan.
In addition to that, the plan calls for 1,480,000 square feet of non-residential development, broken down into 600,000 square feet of commercial, 630,000 square feet of office and 250,000 square feet of light industrial.
Justin Powell, president of Palmer Ranch LLC, explained how the greenspace and trails will connect with other neighborhoods, while the town center will create a sense of place.
“We need to have that cluster development there with a sense of place to go,” Powell said. “This will be, we feel, the hub and the heart of eastern Sarasota County.”
The business park aspect is intended to remedy the lack of space for corporations that may seek to relocate to the area.
“We’re trying to add some value to Sarasota County that we feel is missing,” Powell later added.
Matt Lewis, a principal planner on the project, explained that the town center, which is meant to provide employment opportunities for Palmer Ranch East residents, had been envisioned from the beginning but was shelved when an Interstate 75 exit at Central Sarasota Parkway did not materialize.
What land use changes are being sought for the town center?
Now that plans for both an extension of Lorraine Road south to link up with Knights Trail Road and the State Road 681 interchange at I-75 are advancing, a reintroduction of the proposed business park is a natural next step.
Palmer Ranch East LLC is submitting three applications to establish the framework for the town center: a comprehensive plan text and map amendment, a unified development code text amendment and a Development of Critical Concern/Master Development Plan/Master Development Order application.
Those applications would next be submitted to the Sarasota County Planning Commission as soon as this April and reviewed by the Sarasota County Commission as soon as this June.
When will the road network be built?
The reconfiguration of the I-75/SR 681 interchange is currently in the project development and environmental impact study phase by the Florida Department of Transportation.
That study is projected to be complete in early 2027.
Now, vehicles traveling south on I-75 can access SR 681 south and vehicles traveling north on 681 can access I-75 northbound – a legacy of when I-75 ended in Nokomis, north of Oscar Scherer State Park.
The Sarasota Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization’s five-year work plan projects completion of the building of a full interchange for 2035 to 2040.
Extension of Lorraine Road from Clark Road South to Knights Trail Road is anticipated to be complete by 2030.
How will Palmer Ranch East be developed?
Since the entire tract is controlled by Palmer Ranch developer Hugh Culverhouse Jr., through McCann East Limited Partnership, the most likely guideline would be the incremental development of Palmer Ranch.
The Sarasota County Commission approved development of the last of the 32 increments for the 7,000-plus acre Palmer Ranch Development of Regional Impact, last December.
That tract, totaling 138 acres, included development adjacent to the State Road 681 interchange for Interstate 75.
Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County as well as land development and environmental issues for the Herald-Tribune. Follow him on Facebook, and X. He can be reached by email at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 5,700 homes and town center proposed for major Sarasota development
Reporting by Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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