Planning commission endorses Rye Road project

MANATEE COUNTY — The Manatee County Planning Commission has given its approval recommendation for a proposed residential development near across from Gene Witt Elementary School.

The Planning Commission on April 12 recommended approval of a rezone and preliminary site plan for a 35-acre parcel at 181 Rye Road, across from Witt.

Pete Logan, president of Medallion Home, said his company acquired the land in December 2002, and now has decided to move forward with obtaining entitlements to the property.

“We don’t know quite yet in terms of the product that’s going to be there,” Logan said. “We’re a bit out from being able to develop it. We’re trying to get things entitled and let the market dictate what we build there.”

The parcel’s unique guitar-like shape posed several development challenges, including setback and cul-de-sac requirements, lot sizes and more.

Logan said Medallion Home spent time trying to assemble other adjacent properties to make the parcel bigger but was unable to do so.

“We’ve elected to move forward without (more land),” he said.

As currently proposed and as recommended by the Planning Commission, Rye Road Subdivision would include 100 single-family detached residences — compared to the original 102 homes requested — at a gross density of about 2.9 dwelling units per acre. The neighborhood includes 1.46 acres for recreational amenities, which includes a trail.

Internal streets will be private.

The proposal now goes before the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners May 3, for approval.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

IN OTHER BUSINESS
The Planning Commission also heard requests for a general development plan for a 170,000 square feet of commercial retail or office space on 30 acres at the northwest and northeast corners of U.S. 301 and Harrison Ranch Boulevard.

The board also heard a request for approval of a general development plan for a 1,282-home development on 656 acres in Parrish. Developers are proposing 702 single-family detached, 174 single-family attached, 156 single-family semi-detached and 250 multi-family units on land on the east side of Fort Hamer Road, the south side of Golf Course Road and north of Mulholland Road.