Apartment plans for Town Center Parkway in Lakewood Ranch

During the Manatee County Commission land-use meeting Sept. 5, commissioners unanimously approved a request by Medallion Home to have one means of access for a 160-unit apartment complex proposed on a 19.17-acre site on the east side of I-75, west of Town Center Parkway.

Attorney Scott Rudacille noted Manatee County’s code requirements do not require a second means of access for a 234-bed assisted living facility, which is already an approved use on the site, or a hotel, also acceptable under the county’s development regulations.

“There is a demand for multifamily here now and we’d like to get this site redeveloped,” Rudacille said. “We’ve worked with your staff to develop approach to address concerns.”

Manatee County commissioners also unanimously approved amendments to the master plan for the Tara community that allow construction of residential and residential support uses, such as a church or daycare, on a 3.3-acre site at the northwest corner of Tara Boulevard and State Road 70.

Manatee County and the site’s owner, Lake Lincoln, have been in litigation since 2012 about development rights on the parcel. Residents of Tara have objected to any development at the corner, but support the change in lieu of commercial development there.