BRADENTON - Village Green officials may
have found a development that they like for their golf course.
They blasted a developer's previous plans to build on the former
golf course, nestled in the middle of their west Bradenton
subdivision. But Roger Smith, president of the Village Green
Homeowners Association, said neighborhood officials who saw the
latest plan, for the most part, were impressed.
Smith said the new plan addresses concerns raised by Village
Green residents over developer Lagoinvest Florida's previous plans.
The new plan, named Four Seasons at Village Green, preserves more
green space, puts fewer homes on the former golf course, offers more
building designs and improves drainage, he said.
"I feel very good that the Lago people immediately made contact
with us after the last meeting and seemed to be very interested in
getting our input," Smith said. "They responded to us and I think
it's a win-win for everybody."
Smith said a committee of between 15-20 Village Green residents
worked with Lagoinvest on its new plan. Details of the new site plan
were published in the association's monthly newsletter Friday.
The new plan calls for 149 single-family detached homes, 12 homes
fewer than the last plan. The homes average about 1,800 square feet
of living space and 2,500 square feet total under one roof - almost
identical to the subdivision's existing homes.
Planned amenities include a walking trail along the project's
perimeter for all Village Green residents, a gated entrance, private
roads and extensive landscaping chosen with the help of current
residents.
Scott Clark, president of Lagoinvest, said the plan's density of
about 3.5 units per acre falls far short of the allowable 10 units
per acre.
Clark added that Lagoinvest hired Zoller Najjar & Shroyer LC,
the engineer that helped design the Village Green development in the
1970s.
The plan is expected to go before the Bradenton Planning
Commission in December for a first public review, then the city
council in January. Clark said he hopes to break ground in April
with a roughly two-year buildout.
City planners and residents criticized earlier site plans, and
the commission rejected one version at its July meeting. More than
900 Village Green residents signed a petition asking the commission
to reject it.
Clark said he enjoyed working with the community, despite the
previous negative reactions.
"It's their neighborhood," he said. "You have to take them into
consideration. I predict we'll have a number of buyers who are
currently in Village Green."
Bradenton resident Jack Watson sold the 42-acre golf course after
25 years of ownership to a real estate investor in October 2004.
Lagoinvest bought the land earlier this year for $5 million.
The overwhelming majority of residents want the land to stay a
golf course, but many admitted that's unlikely because they expect
someone to build on it. But they said they want a developer to
restrict homes to single-family, one-story houses with designs
compatible with the rest of the community.
Tim W. McCann, Bradenton and Palmetto city government
reporter, can be reached at 745-7080, ext. 2620, or at twmccann@heraldtoday.com.
