Manatee County Commission Approves Scaled-Back Development Near Center Lake Despite Resident Opposition
During Thursday's land use meeting, the Manatee County Commission approved a controversial development proposal for a south county area near the flood-prone Center Lake. The project, which had faced opposition from local residents, received approval after the developer made significant modifications.
The application originally sought to rezone the area from Residential-6 (Res-6) to Residential-9 (Res-9), allowing for 312 housing units, including an affordable housing component. Last month, the Manatee Planning Commission recommended approval for the project. However, before presenting the application to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), the developer amended the request, reducing the number of total units to 256.
The revised proposal still requests Res-9 zoning, adding 37 units beyond what the existing zoning would permit, but dedicates a significant portion of the site to flood management. The plan now includes a floodplain connected to a pond in the center of the development, aimed at addressing concerns over potential flooding.
Despite these changes, many residents from the Center Lake area and surrounding neighborhoods voiced opposition during the meeting, citing worries about increased traffic and the developmentās potential to exacerbate existing flood risks. The developer is willing to collaborate on infrastructure improvements to assist with stormwater management in the surrounding communities.
The BOCC approved the amended proposal in a 5-1 vote, with Commissioner Jason Bearden casting the sole dissenting vote.