Commission approves dock reconfiguration plan

BRADENTON - A dock that juts into Palma Sola Bay and its potential extension was the main focus of Thursday's land use meeting.

The County Commission voted 5-1, with Joe McClash dissenting, to approve the ordinance allowing a reconfigured dock in the Pier Point subdivision.

McClash had made a motion for an amendment that would allow the design to be shorter, but it failed on a 3-3 vote. Commissioner Donna Hayes was not present.

Joel Christian of the Natural Resources Department staff said the water is too shallow around the dock to allow boats to be launched without running aground, and the extension would allow boats to go out in four feet of water.

McClash said that while the owners may be searching for deeper water, sending a dock further into a body of water used for recreation could create safety hazards for personal watercraft and water-skiiers, even if there are reflectors on the longer dock.

He also expressed concern about the lack of diagrams showing the current length and the new length, just an aerial photo and a line showing the new ending.

But Commissioner Carol Whitmore said she was OK with the longer dock if the state, into whose waters it will extend, is OK with it.

And Commissioner Ron Getman said there was no need to "engineer from the dais." If a boater couldn't see the dock, maybe he shouldn't be on the water, he added.

McClash said he just wanted the owners to be aware that they could come up with a shorter dock, but Commissioner Larry Bustle said it would send a message to the applicant.

"It's going to be the minimum length necessary to accommodate the boats' depth," Christian said. "If we find an alternative design, I don't think it prohibits them from doing it."

In other work, the County Commission approved the following on the consent agenda on a 6-0 vote:

• PetSmart Charities Application - Adoption of Resolution R-09-226 authorizing the submission of an application to PetSmart Charities in the amount of $60,000 and authorizing the County Administrator to execute all related documents.

The Commission also approved a continuance for PDR-06-66(Z)(P) - Kemick Properties LLC/Bayou Pointe Estates, with no date set and to be readvertised.

Commissioners voted 6-0 to approve the following with staff comments:

• PDMU-04-51(P) (R4) - Centrum Properties, Inc, (Curiosity Creek), continued to Nov. 17.
• PDR-05-60(Z)(P) -- NAP Duke Ranch, LLC, MML I, LLC, and PGCI I, LLC/Silverleaf, continued to Nov. 17.
• PDC-08-02(Z)(P) - SM Duck Dog 2 LLC / Lorraine & SR 64 Commercial Park, continued to Nov. 5.
• PDMU-99-07(G)(R5) -- Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority, approving an air traffic control tower and ancillary buildings.
• PA-09-09/ORD. 09-43 -- Port Manatee Master Plan, approved.
• LDA-09-04 -- Local Development Agreement For Summer Woods Development, approved, though Jay King of the River Wilderness development warned of the impact the development would have on Erie Road and advised the commissioners to look into obtaining federal stimulus money to improve the road.