Home Depot cancels plans to build Lakewood Ranch store in Manatee County. Here’s why
A fourth Home Depot store in Manatee County will have to wait.
The Atlanta-based home improvement retail giant is no longer pursuing plans to build a store at 5504 Lorraine Road, near the corner of Rangeland Parkway north of State Road 70 E.
“The Home Depot is dropping the contract on this specific site due to a number of land development challenges,” a Home Depot spokesperson said in an email to the Bradenton Herald.
Home Depot filed a request with Manatee County Development Services to rezone 15.86 acres from general agricultural to planned development commercial in August, according to public records.
Community opposition to the change began that month, too. Lakewood Ranch residents created a website, NoHomeDepotLWR.com, and a Change.org petition against Home Depot’s rezone request.
The petition, which started Aug. 26, had over 2,360 signatures as of Monday afternoon.
The petition lists the following concerns:
Traffic
Increase flooding issues
Zoning changes
Visual impact
Light pollution
Noise pollution
Environmental damage
Local business impact
Long-term infrastructure strain
Public safety
Community character
Sari Lindroos-Valimaki, a Democrat candidate running for the Manatee County Commission District 7 seat, wrote about her concerns over The Home Depot’s planned rezone in a Substack post.
“Lakewood Ranch is known for its quiet, residential feel, complemented by small businesses and local charm,” Lindroos-Valimaki wrote. “Now, drop a Home Depot into the mix, and that cozy atmosphere might start to feel more like a busy industrial zone.”
Home Depot’s existing Manatee County stores are at 2350 Cortez Road W., 5820 State Road 64 E. and 5475 University Parkway.