Cortez residents are voicing opposition to Manatee County’s plans for a new public boat ramp at the former Seafood Shack property, urging officials instead to restore the site as a commercial marina with a restaurant and retail businesses.
Commissioner Siddique's acknowledgment that "... staff are studying traffic solutions, including a connector road around the marina parcel to reduce conflicts between residents and ramp-bound vehicles." does not address the primary issue. Impacted resident's have made it clear that boat ramp traffic to a new facility both from and back onto Cortez Road West in both directions must be completely isolated from the residential neighborhood with no opportunity for that boat ramp traffic to use current residential access to and from Cortez Road West on 126th street/Harbor Landings Boulevard/119th street.
The residential communities have proposed solutions, first presented to Commissioner Kruse in September 2024, to solve this which require the county coordinate with FDOT and their construction of the new bridge and potentially require additional right of way access on the south side of Cortez Road West to create an on-ramp. Thus far, the FDOT project team responsible for the bridge project indicate they have had no contact from the county planners to discuss this issue.
The county's lack of action and willingness to engage on this point is a significant driver's of residential distrust regarding the project.
Commissioner Siddique's acknowledgment that "... staff are studying traffic solutions, including a connector road around the marina parcel to reduce conflicts between residents and ramp-bound vehicles." does not address the primary issue. Impacted resident's have made it clear that boat ramp traffic to a new facility both from and back onto Cortez Road West in both directions must be completely isolated from the residential neighborhood with no opportunity for that boat ramp traffic to use current residential access to and from Cortez Road West on 126th street/Harbor Landings Boulevard/119th street.
The residential communities have proposed solutions, first presented to Commissioner Kruse in September 2024, to solve this which require the county coordinate with FDOT and their construction of the new bridge and potentially require additional right of way access on the south side of Cortez Road West to create an on-ramp. Thus far, the FDOT project team responsible for the bridge project indicate they have had no contact from the county planners to discuss this issue.
The county's lack of action and willingness to engage on this point is a significant driver's of residential distrust regarding the project.