Land swap a go in Lakewood Ranch

The Manatee County School Board and Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch will move forward with a proposed land swap deal that puts  a future high school in Lakewood Ranch, just north of the Lakewood Ranch Post Office.

The School Board on April 10 approved a trade of about 145 acres of land it owns on State Road 64, just west of Dam Road, with a minimum of 120 acres in the northeast quadrant of Lakewood Ranch. 

An 80-acre high school would be constructed on the north side of 59th Avenue East, just west of Pope Road. SMR also has provided about 17 acres the district could have at no cost for a high school expansion, if needed.

A second 40-acre site, which could be used for an elementary or middle school campus, is located south of State Road 64 and east of the future Uihlein Road extension.

“We feel very confident that it’s a financially responsible decision for the board,” School Board member Charlie Kennedy said, adding SMR President Rex Jensen has long been an advocate for public schools. “No matter which of those two locations, there’s going to be a lot of homes close by.”

Overall, however, School Board members like the Lakewood Ranch property because it will be closer to development occurring over the next decade and infrastructure already will be in place, potentially saving the district money on water and sewer, for example. 

“It brings (the school site) closer to the population we need to serve,” School Board member John Colon. “Our needs are in the immediate five years or so. It’s a great benefit.”

The School Board of Manatee County purchased a 159-acre site north of S.R. 64 and west of Dam Road in fiscal year 2007-08 from SMR for $1. It was for construction of a middle school, a high school and a bus depot.