Water park proposal on hold

Fifteen months and two submittals later, water park developer Manatee Lost Lagoon is at a crossroads.

Following public requests to cease and desist negotiations, commissioners on July 26 agreed to put the item on the agenda and determine whether they should continue negotiations with Manatee Lost Lagoon for a $30 million water park and hotel or halt them altogether.

“The bottom line is actually that we didn’t agree that the water park is a bad idea,” Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said. “We didn’t say that. What we said is that we really weren’t sure the location was correct.”

Nearby residents, who have formed the group Save Tom Bennett Park, worry about traffic, quality of life and other issues and say another location may be better.

County attorney Robert Eschenfelder said the county has no legal risk if it decides to scrap the idea of a water park at Tom Bennett Park.

Manatee Lost Lagoon spokesman Bill Gridley said Lost Lagoon is still working on next steps.

“Right now, we’re on hold,” he said. “We’re are waiting for our first meeting with the county to discuss all aspects of the proposal.”

Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker said he believes negotiations should move forward.

“I don’t have an opinion, but I value the process,” Hunzeker said. “Let the process play out. Why stop the process in the middle? You’ll never know if it was a good idea or a bad idea. These people responded to the invitation we sent out and that was a starting point.”

Save Tom Bennett Park members say the project is a bad fit for the area, and the county shouldn’t waste the staff’s or the developer’s time any longer.

“We feel there’s enough evidence to stop it,” member Patti Reid said.

County staff has been combing through issues within the proposal, such as traffic impacts, water and sewer, noise and other concerns. Hunzeker said he won’t know if staff will support the project until their evaluations are complete. At this point, however, too much is unknown.

“There’s fear this is going to be something huge, noisy,” Hunzeker said. “But you don’t know. We need to let it play out. Maybe their fears are unfounded. Maybe not.

“Staff will do this evaluation and then come up with the yes or no, under terms and conditions,” he said. “That comes to me and that’s what I determine whether I can recommend or not.”

Manatee County owns more than 60 pieces of surplus property, of which only one is comparable in size — a 24-acre at 5431 Buckeye Road in Parrish. At the meeting, residents mentioned the property could be used as an alternative site.

Hunzeker said he has no interest in finding another property for a water park, should the commission decide against Lost Lagoon’s proposal. A vendor initiated the process for a public-private partnership, and that’s why it’s being considered.

“I don’t want to take ownership of finding property. It’s an expensive process,” Hunzeker said. “I don’t think we, the government, want to own the concept of owning a splash park.”

From the outset, the Manatee County Commission approved negotiating with a developer for a water park at Tom Bennett Park, the instructions have been clear that commissioners want public input.

“We are getting that community input,” Hunzeker said, adding he does not believe the Save Tom Bennett Park group’s sentiments reflects the entire community. “I think when we have a public hearing, the board will hear from all sides on this issue. There are people who like the idea of a water park. Then there are people who like the idea of finding out what kind of water park this is.”

Discussion on the water park proposal has not yet been placed on a future agenda, but Hunzeker expects it likely will be a topic at the commission’s Aug. 23 meeting.