Fourth Publix supermarket planned for Lakewood Ranch

LAKEWOOD RANCH -- Publix is planning to build its fourth supermarket in Lakewood Ranch at State Road 70 and Lorraine Road.

A total of 82,500 square feet of commercial space is planned for a shopping center with Publix as anchor at the northeast corner of the intersection. Those plans include four outparcels for a bank, a fast-food restaurant, and two commercial multi-tenant buildings, according to papers filed with Manatee County building and development services.

North American Properties would develop the property for Publix, Kirk G. Boylston, president of Lakewood Ranch Commercial Realty, said Thursday.

"We have so much there in development," Boylston said, referring to the new neighborhoods coming to Lakewood Ranch east of Lorraine Road.

Wawa, which has something of a cult following, is building on the southeast corner of Lorraine Road and State Road 70.

The southwest corner of the intersection has a Walgreens, and there is a lot of interest in the adjoining parcels for medical office space, Boylston said.

And on the northwest corner, there is The Ranch Grill restaurant, a Dunkin Donuts, and a gas station.

DiVosta, a subsidiary of Pulte Group, is developing Del Webb at Lakewood Ranch on 643 acres several miles east of Lorraine Road. DiVosta paid $24 million for the property in 2014, making it Manatee County's largest land transaction of 2014, the Herald has reported.

Brian West, media and community relations manager for Publix Corporate Office in Lakeland, said Thursday that he has no information on the proposed Lakewood Ranch supermarket.

The new Publix shopping center is still early in the site plan approval process. County staff have until Sept. 9 to complete its comments, and it must receive approval from the Manatee County Planning Commission and the Manatee County Commission, said Rossina Leider, principal planner.

Publix supermarkets in Lakewood Ranch are at 8330 Market St., 11205 State Road 70 E., and 1755 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. at State Road 64.

In 2014, Publix purchased the Lakewood Walk Shopping Center at 11215 E. State Road 70 from North American Properties for $26.3 million, the Herald has reported.

James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee reporter, can be contacted at 941-745-7053 or on Twitter @jajones1.

This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Fourth Publix supermarket planned for Lakewood Ranch."