Lakewood Ranch expansion coming to eastern Sarasota County despite push back

The peace and quiet is what brought Mike Hutchinson and Eileen Fitzgerald to Old Miakka. It's also why the couple sued Sarasota County, challenging changes to the comprehensive plan that would bring upwards of 5,000 new homes to the area.

"What is sort of discouraging is future generations won’t be able to have what we have," said Hutchinson. "The amount of land where you can have horses is getting less and less."

RELATED: Expansion of Lakewood Ranch en route to Sarasota County Commission after passing planning commission

Big picture view:

This week, Hutchinson and Fitzgerald learned their appeal was denied. 

"We are disappointed. I reached out to my attorney and asked what my options are for review," said Hutchinson. 

Why you should care:

A huge concern about the plan continues to be traffic, especially with Fruitville Road being two lanes with crashes that happen regularly. But, there are other worries too. 

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"Light pollution, noise, east breeze and noise and compressors and pool pumps. Wildlife displacement," said Fitzgerald. 

Dig deeper:

The Sarasota County Commission approved the first two rezones for the extension of Lakewood Ranch Southeast. Commissioners Mark Smith and Tom Knight did not vote in approval of the rezones. 

"If Fruitville Road is ready to go, I don't have a problem, but until we can make it right for you, I just can't support it," said Knight. 

The other side:

Laura Cole, the senior vice president of Lakewood Ranch, said their community would be the right fit. 

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"We are concerned with the growth that is occurring in the region as well," she said. "We feel as though we are putting forth a better model for that type of growth and accommodating it."

While residents have fought to "Keep the Country, Country," they’ll soon be seeing more neighbors than before. 

"I hope in the end everybody recognizes we are committed to doing the type of work that we’ve done for the past 30 years," said Cole. "We really are not cutting any corners or trying to be bad neighbors."

The Source: The information in this story came from the Sarasota County Commission, Mike Hutchinson and Eileen Fitzgerald as well as Laura Cole of Lakewood Ranch. 

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