YouTube star Cleetus McFarland raises concern of rapid development in East Manatee County
YouTube star Cleetus McFarland is raising awareness about the amount of development creeping closer to his East Manatee County racetrack, the Freedom Factory.
McFarland, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, is a popular YouTube influencer known for videos about his automotive endeavors. Most of them take place at the Freedom Factory, which McFarland purchased in 2020. Last year, he used the platform to rally his followers against the expansion of Lakewood Ranch near the track. On Tuesday, he again took to YouTube to air out his concerns.
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His plight garnered so much response last year that hundreds of fans from across the country have tuned into Manatee County meeting in person and virtually to help advocate against the proposal. The video posted on Tuesday had more than 400,000 views within just five hours.
"I think old Betsy, on a Sunday morning, when the damn top fuel cars are running out here, she's not going to be real pleased when her windows are shaking," McFarland said on YouTube. "We're just that close. There is no way you can stop the noise of a top fuel dragster or a pro mod that has a screw blower on it from reaching houses that are a mile from here."
Manatee County commissioners have approved a series of comprehensive plan changes to allow certain developers to build east of the county's Future Development Area Boundary line. The line marks the furthest east the county provides water and sewer services, and restricts the density of any development on land.
The votes by commissioners gave SMR Taylor Ranch and the Carlos Beruff-owned East River Ranch the green light to skip over the FDAB line and build thousands of new homes right up to and around the Freedom Factory property, with some stipulations for compromise with McFarland.
"Unfortunately, even though we showed up to the courthouse with thousands of people, sent what I would guess would be 50,000 to 100,000 emails… even though we showed up in full force, our county commissioners decided to approve the project," McFarland said.
Now, with the knock of every nail, and the clear cutting of every tree, development continues to creep closer to the Freedom Factory's door. The Bradenton Motorsports Complex and the Myakka Elephant Ranch are also located in the area.
"It's coming, it's 100% coming," McFarland said.
McFarland ended the video by declaring his intent to keep the Freedom Factory in operation in Manatee County.
"No matter what, my goal is to make sure that there is a racetrack in this community forever," McFarland said. "That's what I plan on doing. We're here riding it out. It's going to be like Yellowstone in this thing if they try to come for our land."
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Cleetus McFarland, Freedom Factory owner, worries about development
