News Briefs

+ Planning Commission supports Woodbrook II
The Manatee County Planning Commission recommended approval of Neal Communities’ Woodbrook II subdivision Feb. 13.

At its monthly meeting, the commission OK’d a preliminary site plan for project, which calls for 77 single-family homes to be built on 53.78 acres south of Whitfield Avenue, between Prospect Road and Lockwood Ridge Road.

Woodbrook II is not considered the second phase of Neal’s Woodbrook community, a nearby subdivision off Lockwood Ridge Road that features a cottage-home series priced in the mid-$100,000s to low $200,000s. Neal Communities’ Vice President of Marketing Leisa Weintraub said the community soon will receive a name change.

“Woodbrook II will have a completely different product (than Woodbrook),” Weintraub said. “We’re excited about the community because the area is enormously popular with people.”

Because the planning commission is an advisory body, the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners will have a final say on the site plan for the project.

+ New county tool aids in disaster recovery
According to a recent survey by FEMA, 40% of businesses never recover from hurricanes and other disasters.

Manatee County hopes to help reduce that statistic.

Last week, local legislatures announced a new tool — the Business Recovery Directory — to organize and aid business owners should an emergency happen.

The network allows individuals who register to appear in the directory, giving them access to services and products.

The Web-based bulletin encourages business owners to communicate through the directory.

The data gathered from the website will later be relayed to state and federal agencies for relief support.
For more information, visit public.mymanatee.org/vendor_esr/dao/recovery.html.

Meetings & agendas

Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Meeting — 9 a.m. Feb. 25 at the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton

Manatee County School Board Workshop — 3 p.m. Feb. 25 at 215 Manatee Avenue W., Bradenton.

Manatee County School Board Meeting — 5:45 p.m. Feb. 25 at 215 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.