WCI to build 159 homes at Copperlefe

WCI to build 159 homes at Copperlefe

EAST MANATEE -- Bonita Springs-based WCI Communities is bringing a new subdivision to one of the busiest construction corridors in East Manatee County.

Copperlefe, a 159-home neighborhood, has been proposed for 63 acres fronting on Upper Manatee River Road. The project is being evaluated by county planning staff.

Sited for pasture land that abuts two developments that got their start in the 1990s and early 2000s, GreyHawk Landing and Gates Creek neighborhood, Copperlefe is the latest planned along a road that is the southern tie-in for the new Fort Hamer bridge.

The new community joins a patchwork of subdivisions that are under construction or in the planning stages along Upper Manatee River Road and Fort Hamer Road in Parrish. Once tied together by the bridge, which already is under construction, the two roads will be a primary north-south route between rapidly growing housing areas in Parrish and a massive housing area north of State Road 64 dominated by Heritage Harbour, GreyHawk Landing and Mill Creek.

More big subdivisions are coming to that area. In September, Bradenton developer and Medallion Home owner Carlos Beruff asked Manatee County to increase housing density on 295 acres he owns on Upper Manatee River Road. Under his proposal, 1,400 homes and an assisted living facility would be built on land once occupied by Moore's Dairy Farm.

Also preparing to do more building is the developer of GreyHawk Landing. The development recently submitted a proposal to Manatee County to build 69 more homes in its Greyhawk Landing West neighborhood. Up to 500 homes may built there over time. About 800 homes have already been completed in GreyHawk Landing.

WCI's proposed development would occupy one of the last large undeveloped parcels along the north-south portion of Upper Manatee River Road. The company signed a purchase agreement for the land with owner John Clendenon in April. A sale has not been finalized, according to county records.

Neither WCI officials nor Clendenon responded to requests to comment on Copperlefe.

Matt M. Johnson, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7027 or on Twitter

This story was originally published November 9, 2015 at 5:08 PM with the headline "WCI to build 159 homes at Copperlefe ."