Planned projects on tap at Charlotte Commission
April 5th, 2018
By Gary Roberts - Staff Writer
MURDOCK — Several proposed developments, some big, some small, will be up for consideration at the next Charlotte County Commission meeting.
The largest project on the docket is the Harper-McNew property consisting of 1,554 acres on the Lee County border, east of U.S. 41.
Commissioners will review a request to rezone the property from agriculture and planned development to a PD. This would allow for a rural, mixed-use residential, commercial and potential industrial development that calls for a maximum of 3,109 residential units, 450,000 square feet of commercial use and 126,964 square feet of potential industrial use.
Also, in order to implement regional environmental restoration objectives, property owners are requesting a change in its master development plan. This revision would provide a critical flow linkage on the subject property to help restore flows from the Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area via the Bond Ranch property to the Yucca Pens unit.
Another 165 homes are planned in South Gulf Cove.
Lennar Homes, LLC has requested approvals for a final plat and developer’s agreement for a 100-acre subdivision to be named Harbor West, located south of the Butterford Waterway, north of Abalone Road, east of Santa Cruz Drive, and west of St. Paul Drive.
And still more home are slated for South Gulf Cove in a separate development.
DM Dean, Inc. has requested preliminary and final plat approvals for a five-lot subdivision to be named Santa Lucia Cove. The site is 1.6 acres and is located south and east of the Santa Cruz Waterway, north and west of Santa Lucia Drive.
If approved, applicants for both of these South Gulf Cove residential communities will be able to apply for building permits or convey the platted lots.
Another land-use public hearing involves a proposed expansion of an existing business. Bert’s Black Widow Harley-Davidson is requesting final detail site plan approval for the first step in a $10 million, multiphase project that will transform the dealership into an entertainment destination.
This initial phase consists of a paved riding area for a motorcycle training and safety course on a 7.5-acre site at 2224 El Jobean Road.
Future plans include a 7,800-square-foot restaurant; outdoor pavilion for live music and movies with a permanent, 300-foot-by-200-foot roof; additional parking for 300 vehicles; and a signature, 40-foothigh Harley-Davidson water tower.
And, finally, a proposed resolution would authorize County Administrator Ray Sandrock to act on behalf of the Charlotte Harbor Community Redevelopment Agency to “take necessary steps to close pending or future transactions” in order facilitate development.
Sunseeker is seeking to buy 3.6 acres of county land on the east side of U.S. 41 to develop 142 condo units and 202 hotel rooms, along with infrastructure improvements.
The CRA proposal is in conjunction with the $800 million Sunseeker Resort now underway in Charlotte Harbor featuring 720 condos, 75 hotel rooms, a 1,000-foot-long pool and public boardwalk along the shoreline with up to 10 restaurants and bars. In exchange for acquiring the two parcels of vacant land, Sunseeker is proposing to make $16.3 million in public improvements, in lieu of payment for the land. The county purchased the property just 18 months ago for $4.5 million.
The County Commission meeting starts at 9 a.m. Tuesday, in the Commission Chambers at the County Administration Center, 18500 Murdock Circle, in Port Charlotte. The land-use public hearings begin at 2 p.m.
