Looking for a shiny new-construction home? You're in luck. Plans for a major expansion of Lakewood Ranch have cleared legal obstacles, paving the way for thousands of new homes in Sarasota County.

Last week, county commissioners approved a rezoning request for more than 2,200 acres, and a Florida appellate court ruled in favor of Lakewood Ranch's developer, Shroeder-Manatee Ranch (SMR), in a lawsuit that sought to limit growth in the area.

The up-to-5,000-home project, spanning 4,100 acres west of Verna Road and north of Fruitville Road, falls within a zoning category called the "village transition zone," which applies only to Lakewood Ranch Southeast. The court's decision allows for up to 3.5 units per acre—a shift from previous restrictions, which permitted just one unit per 10 acres in some areas.

The rezoning and legal challenges stemmed from concerns raised by local resident Mike Hutchinson and his wife Eileen Fitzgerald, who, along with other preservation nonprofits, opposed the increased density.

"The 2050 plan was supposed to preserve rural areas east of I-75," Hutchinson says. "We already met the number of homes needed, according to the plan, yet development keeps pushing eastward."

Hutchinson and Fitzgerald, who live approximately 1,300 feet from the project site in Bern Creek Ranches, challenged the rezoning in court, arguing that it violated land-use agreements. Although a circuit court ruled against them in 2023, they appealed to Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal. Last month, a panel of three judges unanimously sided with the county and developer, ending the legal battle. 

"I was a little surprised it came back 3-0, and this quickly," Hutchinson says. "I'm a born optimist, but anytime you go to court, it’s a crapshoot."

Hutchinson, whose property encompasses 10 acres, adds, "The rural lifestyle we moved here for and the people with horses for instance or chickens will be thrown away." 

Laura Cole, senior vice president of Lakewood Ranch, says the developer expects to break ground within the next few months. "With the appeal behind us, we anticipate starting infrastructure work within the next quarter," she says. "Before the seven villages come online, we have to lay the groundwork."

The project will feature a mix of housing types, including entry-level homes, move-up residences and custom builds. Builders involved in the new expansion include Pulte, Taylor Morrison, Neal Signature Homes, Neal Communities and Toll Brothers, which recently launched a nearby project, Monterey at Lakewood Ranch. There are 4,700 planned, though the developer is allowed to build up to 5,000. Prices are expected to range from $300,000 to more than $2 million.

Project Area 1

Project Area 3

Project Area 6

Project Area 7

In addition to residential development, the project includes infrastructure investment. Shroeder-Manatee Ranch has committed $200 million toward road improvements, including a 4.8-mile extension of Bourneside Boulevard to Fruitville Road and a 2.8-mile expansion of University Parkway to four lanes between Lorraine Road and Bourneside Boulevard. Plans also include connections to the Florida Gulf Coast Trail.

Opponents remain concerned about the broader impact on traffic, wildlife, and the region’s rural character. "We have gridlock now, and this will only add to it," Hutchinson says. "Local wildlife will be pushed further east as their habitats are developed. This area was supposed to remain rural."

The Lakewood Ranch expansion comes as the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota metro area ranks as the nation’s top mid-size metro for new home construction, according to 2024 data from Construction Coverage. The demand for housing in the region remains strong, according to Cole, who points to real estate analytics anticipating demand for 10,000 new homes in the metropolitan area over the next year.

With approvals in place, Lakewood Ranch Southeast aims to begin home sales by late 2025 or early 2026, though the full timeline will depend on market conditions. "Post-pandemic demand has normalized, but Florida remains a desirable place to live," Cole says. "We’re designing a range of housing options to accommodate different buyers, including multi-generational families and workforce housing."

Indeed, for seven consecutive years, Lakewood Ranch has topped sales nationwide in the multi-generation community category.

But as construction begins, the debate over development in east Sarasota County is unlikely to subside. While supporters see the project as a necessary response to population growth, opponents warn of lasting consequences for the region’s rural identity.

As for Hutchinson and Fitzgerald, the couple plans to stay.

"We were told our property value would go up and we could sell and make a good profit since our home will soon be unique and more desirable with all the space it comes with, but my wife won't move," Hutchinson says. "She's been here since 1988. This is home."