New development proposed for East County

More development appears headed to Upper Manatee River Road.

M/I Homes Sarasota has proposed a 126 single-family homes, tentatively called Riverside Preserve, on a 44.5-acre property just east of Christian Retreat and The Enclave at Country Meadows. The land fronts Upper Manatee River Road to the south and the Manatee River to the north.

The Manatee County Planning Commission unanimously endorsed the project at its Sept. 14 meeting.

Neighbors said the property’s narrow configuration would require lot sizes to be smaller than in neighboring communities and would likely drive adjacent property values down.

“It’s inconsistent with present development on Upper Manatee River Road,” said Larry Howe, a resident of the Enclave at Country Meadows.

Howe’s neighbor, Steve Carton, agreed.

“I put a lot of money into my house and all of the sudden, the value is going to come crashing down if you put too many homes on a small piece of property,” Carton said. “It’s not progress. It’s the reverse of progress.”

Planning commissioners offered their sympathy, but also said smaller homes do not necessarily mean decreased value. The commissioners said additional buffering between the road and community can help mitigate any differences in appearance, at least from the roadway.

“There needs to be diversity of housing,” Commissioner Al Horrigan said. “Something that’s homogenous doesn’t mean it’s going to be worth more.”

Art Ball, a rancher on Upper Manatee River Road, expressed concern about flooding in the area. Overflows from the river or flood waters, in general, flow from the proposed property through his pastureland. During heavy rains last month, water levels rose to the top fence post in his lower pasture.

“Whenever this property is developed, it cannot impede our natural flow of water to drain our pastureland,” he said.

The property under consideration sits within 25-year and 100-year flood plains, but not in the floodway. Developer representatives said post-construction, no new homes would be located in the flood plains, and the developer would work with state and local agencies to ensure water drains correctly  from the property.

The project includes 16.38 acres for recreational space with amenities including a community center, canoe launch and a building for kayak storage.

Manatee County staff members have recommended a 6-foot-high wall or fence with landscaping adjacent to Upper Manatee River Road to mitigate potential noise impacts to future residents.

The Manatee County Commission will hear and vote on the proposal next month.