Sarasota County Gives Green Light to 5,700-Home Palmer Ranch East

Sarasota County commissioners gave unanimous approval this week to Palmer Ranch East,a 5,700-home master-planned development near Nokomis,sending the project to state review. Here is what to know.

The Project at a Glance

The project covers about 2,351 acres east of the Interstate 75 interchange at State Road 681 and includes the homes plus nearly 1.5 million square feet of commercial space with a town center. Developer Palmer Ranch Holdings, led by Hugh Culverhouse,says the town center will serve as a major employment hub. It's the last large piece of the county's 2050 plan approved back in 2002,and buildout is expected to take about 20 years.

Why It's Controversial

Roughly 5,700 homes brings questions about traffic on surrounding roads,schools,and infrastructure. The town center includes about 1,000 residential units,pushing density above the two units per acre allowed under the underlying village plan. The vote also comes at a time when commissioners have taken a more development-skeptical stance across eastern Sarasota County.

Supporters Point to the Jobs

Supporters point to the jobs and commercial space. “We lose businesses to Manatee County,Lee County,Collier all the time,” Palmer Ranch Holdings President Justin Powell told commissioners,“because there is no place for businesses to go.”

What's Next

The plan now moves to state review,where agencies weigh in before any final approval. Even then,homes would come online gradually over two decades.

What It Means for You

Slow,steady additions to new-home supply and commercial space in south Sarasota County,worth watching for long-term buyers near the Nokomis and Venice corridor.