Manatee County Commission Denies Two Development Requests, Grants Continuation on Third

BRADENTON — Multiple development application requests before Manatee County Commissioners failed to gain the board's support last week. Two ended in denials, and one narrowly escaped a denial and was granted a continuance.

While taking up a lengthy land use agenda on Thursday, commissioners heard from applicants and citizens concerning requested approvals that, if approved, would make way for new residential developments in Parrish and the Tara community.

Tara

The applicant presentation included a timeline of the multi-decade history of the Tara Development of Regional Impact (DRI) development order. Decades old, Tara's DRI has been amended 10 times since 1996.

The request before the commissioners on Thursday was the same as one that was submitted in 2024, but failed in a tie vote; on Thursday, it returned with revisions.

The revised request included an approval to allow six commercially zoned acres located at the corner of Tara Blvd and Stone River Road to be the site of a 72-unit, three-story apartment building.

As they did in 2024, numerous residents of the Tara neighborhood organized in opposition to the request, and they brought with them subject matter experts to help plead their case.

The residents argued against the application's approval due to incompatibility with the current zoning designation and the existing and future planned character of the DRI, as well as traffic concerns.  Many Tara residents who spoke insisted they would rather see the location developed under its residential-commercial designation. 

In the end, a majority of commissioners agreed with community residents and the representatives who spoke on their behalf, finding the request to be inconsistent with the DRI and current zoning. The majority agreed that a commercial use would maintain compatibility and provide greater benefit to the community. 

The board moved to deny all portions of the application request, which prevailed 5-2. Commissioners Mike Rahn and Tal Siddique cast votes in support of the applicant's requests.



Crosswinds South

The rezone request was for approximately 34 acres, and a designation change from agricultural suburban to planned development residential was sought. The site location lies just north of Rutland Road in Parrish, east of US 301 North, and south of SR 62.

The rezone application included a preliminary site plan for the development of 94 single-family detached dwelling units.

While only one citizen provided public comment in person, advocating for commissioners to deny the application, numerous written public comments were also submitted by citizens in opposition to approval.

Commissioners voted unanimously to deny the Crosswinds South application, citing concerns regarding stormwater, flooding, compatibility, and transportation.



Pope Ranch

Presenting with a team of representatives, the applicant (Neal Communities) sought the board’s approval for a rezone of 217.36 acres from general agriculture, coastal evacuation area, and coastal planning area, to planned development residential.

A general development plan was presented for the proposed development of 440 single-family residential units along CR 675 (Rutland Road) in Parrish.

Having received a recommendation for approval from the planning commission, presenters detailed what they called the "innovative" design aspects of the proposed development plan, highlighting that the proposed design would provide stormwater improvements that would benefit the area.

After an in-depth question-and-answer portion led by commissioners, the item was moved to public comment.

Roughly a dozen citizens addressed the board, providing compelling and emotional testimony about the flooding the surrounding areas experienced last hurricane season. All public speakers encouraged the request to be denied until a better understanding of what contributed to the devastating flooding in the area last year was gained and until stormwater improvements to support new development could be made.

Upon commissioner deliberations, the request appeared destined to be denied. Three commissioners strongly expressed their positions, citing primary concerns regarding the timing and location of the proposed development. 

At the last moment, Commissioner Amanda Ballard, who was attending the hearing by Zoom, was dropped from the call, and the applicant’s representative requested a continuance for the item to be taken under vote by a full board.

Despite efforts to reconvene the full board, closing comments by Commissioner Carol Felts delayed the vote, leading to the loss of a full board. A motion was made to grant the continuance.

The Pope Ranch rezone and development plan approval was continued to “no date certain," 5-1 vote, with Commissioner Carol Felts voting nay, and Commissioner Amanda Ballard absent.