Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Land Use Meeting Yields Major Development Decisions and Denials
The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners convened Thursday for a pivotal Land Use meeting in the Patricia M. Glass Chambers, approving multiple final plats and site plans while also issuing several high-profile development denials.
The meeting began with routine items, including a final plat approval for over 680 new single-family units across five developments in Palmetto and Parrish. These include Edgewater at Coasterra (91 units), Heron Glen (60), Cross Creek Phase I-E (66), Pepper Grove (99), and Oakfield Trails Phase V (371). All items on the Consent Agenda passed 6-1, with Commissioner Bearden dissenting.
Two major rezoning proposals were removed from the Consent Agenda and subsequently denied unanimously. These included the Crosswinds South application and a proposal by Tara-Manatee, Inc., both of which failed to meet standards for approval.
In other decisions:
Rezoning Approvals:
Alliebubba Adventures LLC received approval to rezone 2.04 acres in Bradenton from Agricultural Suburban to Light Manufacturing.
Palm Links Estates was approved for four single-family homes on over four acres off Links Court in Sarasota.
2405 Lena Road was rezoned to Light Manufacturing/Limited for Blooming Landscape and Lawn Maintenance, Inc.
Chalets at Lakewood Ranch, a new 35-unit residential development at Lorraine Road and 44th Avenue East, passed narrowly in a 4-3 vote.
Romero Townhomes, located on 2.16 acres near US 301 and 49th Avenue East in Bradenton, received approval for rezoning to RMF-9, which allows for increased residential density.
Development Denials:
Hawthorn Rezone, a 175-unit multifamily proposal near Whitfield Avenue, was denied in a 5-2 vote. Commissioners cited inconsistency with the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code.
The Oaks at Rutland Ranch, a 96-home development proposed by Oak Development Group, was unanimously rejected after undergoing a statutory dispute resolution process. Commissioners also ordered written findings of denial to be brought back on June 19.
Legislative Action:
In a 7-0 vote, the Board adopted Ordinance 25-15, which increases impact fee rates and amends Chapter 11 of the Land Development Code. The ordinance cited extraordinary circumstances to justify exceeding state-imposed phase-in limits.
The meeting also included a continued public hearing on the Lorraine Corners NE project, now scheduled for June 19. County Attorney Pamela D’Agostino and Administrator Charlie Bishop closed the session with brief updates, followed by commissioner comments.
The next Land Use meeting will reconvene on June 19, 2025.