Sarasota developer Lee Wetherington received special recognition Wednesday for his commitment to water resources from the Southwest Florida Water Management’s Manasota Basin Board.
The Manasota Basin Board chose to honor Wetherington for taking the lead in getting Sarasota County’s landscape ordinance passed and adopting Florida-friendly landscaping practices in his developments.
Wetherington’s Misner Reserve at Lakewood Ranch was the first Florida Yards and Neighborhood (FYN) development at Lakewood Ranch. At that time, he had to beg Lakewood Ranch for permission to go forward with the design.
“By converting his models, he demonstrated to his fellow builders that these new landscapes can be attractive and efficient and that people will buy them,” said Tom Dabney, member of the Manasota Basin Board and Governing Board.
Once complete, Lakewood Ranch representatives were so impressed with it that they adoptedFYN design criteria for the balance of the project.
“Out at Willow Bend where we planted the first Florida-friendly landscapes you can go there on the weekends and see a slow stream of cars looking at that landscape,” said Lee Wetherington.
Wetherington was also very involved in the development and passing of the County’s landscape ordinance. He attended meetings, worked on the language used in the ordinance and met with each commissioner encouraging them to support it.
Wetherington also donated the necessary funds and had his subcontractors install the landscape materials and irrigation for the Children’s Garden at the Fruitville Library.
The Manasota Basin includes Manatee and Sarasota counties.