Local Government BOCC Approves Lake Flores Plan

BRADENTON — Manatee County Commissioners voted unanimously on Thursday to approve a General Development Plan for Lake Flores, with 6,500 residential units; 3 million square feet of commercial, and a 500-room hotel on approximately 1,292 acres of property south of Cortez Road, east and west of 75th Street along El Conquistador Parkway in southwestern Manatee County.

The development will be built out over the next 20 years around a still-to-be-built Lake Flores that will be the centerpiece of the community. Whiting Preston, President of Manatee Fruit, owner of the property and leader of the development project, referred to Lake Flores as a game changer.

Critics of the development were mostly concerned with the traffic impact, particularly on an already overburdened Cortez Road, which can back up westbound for hours at a time with beach traffic during high season.

"Sometimes I have to get up at 7 a.m. to go to the nearest grocery store, which is Walmart, so I can head back to Cortez before the traffic gets heavy," said Linda Molto, Co-founder of FISH. "It might not take long to get there, but to get back can take an hour or two. That's how we have to change our lives."

Cortesian Joe Kane said, "Cortez is the crown jewel of Manatee County, so I am worried for the Village. I am concerned about the bridge. I want to know they will be protected."

Commissioners were unanimously pleased with the plans for the project.

Commissioner John Chappie said, "This is a game changer, and I too have been watching stores go out of business in western Bradenton over the years. This (development) is going to change that."

Commissioner Carol Whitmore said, "All of those stores on Cortez Road will get more business."

As a general development plan, the project will move forward without much further public oversight. County staff will work with the developer for each site plan as each phase is developed. 

Click here to view the county's staff report for the project. Click here to view the Manatee School District's report for this project. Click here to view the traffic impact analysis.