Lakewood Ranch CDDs seek uniform regulation of lakes

In a community built around lakes, Lakewood Ranch isn’t regulating very many of them. That might change this summer. 

As of now, only CDD1, which includes Summerfield and Riverwalk, has regulations in place regarding the lakes, ponds and any activities they might attract. Boating is only allowed on Summerfield, Heron and Trophy lakes. Catch-and-release fishing is mandatory for bass, and swimming is prohibited. 

Now, the rest of the CDDs are considering implementing rules. Staff is in the process of creating a set of rules that are expected to go before the CDDs and the public during June’s monthly meetings. 

“Everyone had always assumed that it’s catch and release, but some people are getting fish and putting them in their coolers and bringing them home to eat,” District Counsel Andrew Cohen said. “CDD1 definitely has fishing policies, but it became evident that we should have some uniformity.”

The end goal is to come up with a policy that will apply across ponds and lakes in the entire community. 

CDD4, which includes Greenbrook Adventure Park, is looking to add an additional rule after last Fourth of July when the pavilion burned down from some stray fireworks. The rule is simply no fireworks. 

It’s only legal to set off fireworks on three days of the year in Manatee County – July 4, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. But if a CDD or homeowners association bans fireworks, then they're banned in any common areas on those days, too. 

“We might have a pavilion now that hopefully won’t burn, but we have protective covering on exercise equipment and all those trees that could be set on fire.” CDD4 Assistant Secretary Nancy Johnson said about Greenbrook Adventure Park. "I personally am very pro CDD4 banning fireworks period.”

Greenbrook Adventure Park is a common area. The CDD cannot ban people from setting off fireworks on their own property during those three holidays.