The county approved a construction and maintenance agreement with the Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District on Dec. 2, clarifying that the stewardship district built the right-of-way improvements and agreed to maintain landscaping and irrigation elements above county standards.

Public Works staff explained the stewardship district constructed the road to county standards without receiving impact-fee credits and now seeks formal acceptance of the deed. The maintenance agreement obligates the district to maintain enhancements that exceed county code so the county will not assume additional costs for nonstandard landscaping.

Commissioner McCann questioned whether taxpayers would eventually shoulder maintenance costs and whether acceptance was required; staff said the plans and approvals contemplated a public road connection and that deferred acceptance was part of the development plan. The motion passed with a recorded vote of six in favor and one opposed (Commissioner McCann).

What happens next: The deed acceptance is scheduled for a future meeting and staff said the agreement ensures the district bears the cost of anything exceeding county standards.