New project bringing over 2,000 homes to Parrish. It also comes with improved roads
As part of a plan to build more than 2,000 homes in Parrish, a developer has agreed to modernize a 3.2-mile stretch of Buckeye Road.
Planners with Lennar Homes, the developer that created Heritage Harbour, say the road will be widened to 24 feet with proper roadway shoulders and will include 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the south side. In exchange for impact fee credits, private developers often build roads cheaper than the county can. The road will remain two lanes.
The improvements aren’t something that the Manatee County Commission could have forced the developer to build, according to Florida law, but Caleb Grimes, a representative for Lennar Homes, came up with a legally binding land development agreement to ensure it actually happens.
“I believe very strongly that this project without building the extra roads meets the Comprehensive Plan and should be approved,” Grimes said. “I believe it should be approved without what Lennar is stepping up to do, but Lennar, as you can tell, is very interested in getting these roads built and is willing to come in and assist and get that done.”
“To me, the road part is a little bit of gravy on the top and it’s a great thing to have,” he continued.
Initial upgrades won’t bring Buckeye up to the county’s standards for a thoroughfare road, but the agreement allows commissioner to decide when an expansion to four lanes would occur. Lennar is also planning on building out an extension of Fort Hamer Road that will extend north to connect with Buckeye Road.
Lennar’s project sits on 1,100 acres of land at the southwest corner of Buckeye Road and U.S. 301. It is slated to bring 2,400 homes and about 300,000 square feet of commercial space.
At Thursday’s Land Use Meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to approve the rezoning and said the proposal was a huge benefit for the county, which has recently lamented the state of Buckeye Road.
“Buckeye Road has really been a sore subject, so I really appreciate the applicant coming forward because that’s a huge, huge asset to us,” said Commissioner Vanessa Baugh.
“I think this board realizes the old school of thought about building roads just with impact fees is not going to cut it. Our need is too great. We have to realize that and come up with other solutions,” Baugh added. “I’m thankful that these two developers are helping us with this.”
Commissioners are planning to host a workshop where they evaluate their approach to transportation upgrades.
“We’re discussing whether we want to just keep improving 2-lane roads or do we want to actually step up to the plate? What’s it going to cost? How are we going to do it? I think we’re going to deal with that in March,” Commissioner Priscilla Whisenant Trace said.
