BRADENTON — At Thursday's Manatee County Commission land use meeting, commissioners approved a small-scale comprehensive plan map, text amendment, and rezone for a controversial south county development near the flood-prone residents of Center Lake.
The original application asked to move from Res-6 to Res-9, for a total of 312 units with an affordable housing component. A month ago, the Manatee Planning Commission recommended that the BOCC approve that application. However, the applicant significantly modified the request before bringing it to the BOCC.
The amended request still asks for Res-9 but limits the total units to 256, which is 37 additional units than would have been possible with the existing zoning. Much of the freed space is dedicated to a considerable flood plane connecting to a pond near the center of the development.
Representatives of the developer said they are open to connecting the infrastructure to assist the surrounding communities in storm water management. During citizen comments, a sizable contingent of residents from Center Lake and other nearby developments opposed the project, expressing concerns over flooding and traffic.
The item passed 5-1, with Commissioner Jason Bearden dissenting.
Video of the item can be seen below.
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David Daniels
Commissioner Kruse continues to impress with his level of preparation and understanding that allows him to summarize not only the pros and cons of the question being decided, but also the underlying motivations of the developer asking for the board's approval. It is a unique and extremely valuable talent that County residents are fortunate to have representing our interests. He is not anti-development. But Developers are on notice that when they put lipstick on a pig, they can get every Commissioner to jump on board - except Kruse. Even Bearden - with his ever-changing, finger in the wind, (usually incorrect) imagined Constitutional role can't make a coherent, consistent statement to explain his unpredictable positions. When Kruse sides with a proposed development, we know he will be able to make a persuasive case for the long term interests of Manatee County. Although they are speaking in a different tone now - we must remember the disrespect, the insults, the snide remarks, and the 6-1 votes that Ballard, Rahn and Bearden participated in (with KVO leading the way). Kruse won't call it out. He will welcome the finger in the wind change of attitude - especially from unbalanced Bearden. But we must remember how he used to raise his voice and aggressively point his finger at Kruse. We must make continue the taking back of good government, which includes bringing in a Administrator with integrity. One that respects the public's right to public records, and understands that it's not OK to use your position to lean on municipal mayors to get personal preferential treatment. It probably never occurred to Bishop that he'd be cutting in front of a family that pays his salary.
Saturday, October 19, 2024 Report this