Manatee County to hold How Will We Grow community workshops

Over the next three months Manatee County is asking the community to weigh in on the How Will We Grow conversation — a discussion helping county commissioners outline growth and development standards for the next 30 years.

Manatee County Planning and Zoning official John Osborne has begun taking the How Will We Grow presentation to community groups around Manatee County.

The study proposes three future growth scenarios:
• Alternative 1, the “stay the course” option, makes minor changes to Manatee County’s current Comprehensive Plan and would continue the suburban growth trend towards low densities and low-rise development patterns in most areas.

• Alternative 2, the Southwest County focus, encourages additional population and development in the southwest area of the county. This would focus redevelopment and increased densities and potentially taller buildings (greater than 35' in areas) along the U.S. 41 corridor and other areas west of Interstate 75 where infrastructure and services already exist.

• Alternative 3, the “activity center” focus, encourages denser and more concentrated growth within four designated areas: Port Manatee area, Parrish, Lakewood Ranch, and the U.S. 41 corridor area of Southwest County. Like Alternative 2, it would allow increased densities and potentially taller buildings (greater than 35' in areas) in these activity centers.

Osborne has already met with the Manatee Youth Commission, Tiger Bay, Chamber of Commerce committees and others.

Later this month and in April, Osborne will visit the Federation of Communities, local community redevelopment agency meetings, the League of Women Voters and local neighborhood associations.
A full lineup of the How Will We Grow discussions, and a host of background and research can be found at www.mymanatee.org/howwillwegrow.

The public may attend one of the general community presentations scheduled. To schedule a discussion of How Will We Grow with your community group or neighborhood association, contact Kandi Carver at (941) 748-4501 ext. 6873 or e-mail [email protected].

The Board of County Commissioners is expected to make a decision on growth alternatives in June.

Upcoming workshops:
Wednesday March 13, 2013
Manatee County Women in Government
4th floor – Manatee Room, downtown Bradenton
12:00 noon – 1:00pm

Monday, March 25, 2013
Bradenton Women’s Club
11:00am – 1:00pm

Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Southwest County
Manatee County Utilities Department
66th Street West, large conference room
6:30pm – 8:00pm

Friday, April 5, 2013
TARA
11:30am – 1:30pm

Saturday, April 6, 2013
Downtown Bradenton
Fountain Room
1002 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton FL
10:30am – 12:30pm

Thursday, April 11, 2013
Downtown Presentation
BOCC Chambers – 1st floor
1112 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton FL
7:00pm – 9:00pm

Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Federation of Communities
Synovus Bank
2520 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton FL
7:00pm – 8:00pm

Thursday, April 25, 2013
14th Street CRA
Peace Lutheran Church
1611 – 30th Avenue West, Bradenton FL
5:30pm – 7:00pm