County Moves Forward with Multiple Road Realignment Plans

BRADENTON – At Tuesday’s BOCC meeting, Manatee County Commissioners struggled with several roadway realignment items, some of which would involve the eminent domain taking of multiple parcels of private property.

At the board’s last meeting, a resident group opposing plans to widen 59th Street West complained about the lack of communication between the county and potentially-affected residents. Several commented that the only communication they had received was from attorneys seeking to represent them on a matter they had been unaware of.

At Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners were given updated presentations on multiple projects. In some cases, staff had gone back and attempted to make the proposals less intrusive on private property.

On the 59th Street project, staff informed the board that all six "full takes“ of property initially proposed had been eliminated by modifying the realignment plan. An additional left turn lane onto Manatee Ave from 59th Street West will require additional space, but shifting a proposed roundabout allowed the plan to avoid impacting businesses and limited the properties that will be impacted by partial takings to two. The item passed unanimously.

The next item regarded the realignment of 63rd Avenue East from US 301 to Tuttle Ave. Staff shifted the alignment south near Tuttle to minimize total impact to residential homes, narrowed a median, added a left turn lane on Prospect Road, and modified pond locations. The plan requires 30-40 feet of partial takings along the roadside area of some properties. The item passed 5-2 with commissioners Mike Rahn and Vanessa Baugh dissenting.

Next was a realignment plan for 75th Street West from 20th Avenue West to Manatee Avenue. Adjustments allowed staff to reduce the full taking of properties from seven to four, three of which are vacant lots. Staff explained that the lots were necessary for retention pods. A second left turn lane was added at Cortez Road, which would require a partial take. The item passed unanimously.

"We are elected by our constituents to make difficult choices and decisions and, unfortunately, we just made the decision to take someone’s home from them for the benefit of the rest of the county and for the benefit of the rest of our residents, and that’s what eminent domain is,“ said board chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge. "That’s what eminent domain is. At any rate, it’s a tough decision that has to be made but I appreciate that you all made it.

Staff advised that the vote doesn’t actually authorize the taking of the property (only the alignment and the route) and that the property itself would have to come back to the board which would have to authorize the condemnation of the land.

The next item was for Lena Road from south of 44th Avenue East to north of Landfill Road. For this project, staff eliminated one parcel that had been slated for a full take, while adding storm ponds and floodplain compensation on vacant lands. The vote passed unanimously.

The next and most intense realignment item was for Lorraine Road from SR 64 to 59th Avenue East. Changes made were for floodplain and stormwater strategies. However, the plan required several full and partial land takes that Commissioner Baugh, whose district would be affected, was uncomfortable moving forward with. Staff explained that there were multiple options to install retention ponds, some of which had homes on them and others that did not, and wanted the option to explore which if any owners would be "friendly“ to a sale.

Commissioner George Kruse stressed the need to "get ahead“ of upcoming development, and that the problems would either need to be addressed or remain a problem into perpetuity. Kruse said the land will never get cheaper, nor will there be more undeveloped parcels available. The item failed to pass after Baugh requested it be pushed back to next week’s land use meeting so that she could get a more detailed briefing from staff.

A final realignment issue regarded Upper Manatee River Road from SR 64 to the Fort Hamer Bridge. County Administrator Scott Hopes explained that the county had an opportunity to purchase a home on a parcel that would be needed and that it eliminated a potential taking.The project still requires additional full land takes at 2906 Lorraine, and at 2912 or 2920 Lorraine due to plans for development on the northwest corner of Lorraine and SR64, as well as full and partial land takes on vacant land near 4304 Lorraine Road, and full land takes at 5418 Lorraine and across from 5718 Lorraine.

The item passed unanimously without discussion.

Click here to view the meeting agenda and associated materials (items 52-57). To watch video of the meeting, click here.