Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/316941
us," the authors of the Laffer report wrote, "the economics are fairly clear that on aver- age growth does pay for itself." Parsons and County Commission Vice Chairwoman Christine Robinson also dis- cussed how different timing mechanisms with development can impact a project's fiscal neutrality. If a developer begins by focusing on affordable housing, a neighborhood is unlikely to come out as fiscally neutral right away, Parsons said. While "rational staff" should be able to adjust for that, the 2050 rules themselves don't currently offer wiggle room, he added. County Commissioner Nora Patterson offered the only opposition to staff's recommen- dation, arguing that 2050 has the flexibility needed to allow Schroeder-Manatee Ranch to go forward with more than 5,100 residen- tial units at the Villages of Lakewood Ranch South. Revisions to that proposal were in fact approved later the same day. Those revisions include extending the build-out date for the project to 2034 and accepting an updated fiscal neutrality report, which shows the project is in fact "fiscally positive," in the words of Todd Pokrywa, A graphic shows the concept for village development in Lakewood Ranch South. Image courtesy Sarasota County Sarasota News Leader May 23, 2014 Page 29