Long Bar Pointe Returns December 10

Captain Kathe Fannon of Cortez gives public comment in opposition of the measure during the August meeting

BRADENTON – The next chapter in the Long Bar Pointe saga will take place December 10, when the public hearing for an application for a map amendment to change portions of the development area from Res-9 to mixed use will take place during a Manatee County Commission meeting.

In August, the BOCC the map amendment was approved for transmission to the state after language regarding a marina was removed. The state has approved the change and sent it back to the county with comments. Staff will present a report to the board, which will be published prior to the meeting.

After the public hearing, the BOCC will have to vote on final approval for the change. The measure passed initially by a vote of 4-3 with Commissioners DiSabatino, Gallen and Chappie dissenting. The issue was among the most heavily contested in county history with around 1,000 citizens showing up for a marathon meeting that had to be moved to the convention center.

Developers Carlos Beruff and Larry Lieberman have already been approved to develop the largest remaining portion of Sarasota Bay front in Manatee County. However, their application seeks a much more intense development of the environmentally-sensitive lands, which has prompted massive public opposition to the project.