Manatee planners endorse new commercial project

MANATEE COUNTY — An advisory board is recommending unanimous approval of a new commercial site slated for the East County.

The Manatee County Planning Commission Aug. 11 voted to recommend approval of a 21,800-square-foot commercial center at 10208 S.R. 64 E. The 2.9-acre site is about 2,000 feet west of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard on the south side of State Road 64 and just west of Portal Crossing.

The commercial center could include a vehicle-repair establishment, a restaurant or retail space or a combination. The current site plan shows two structures — one 10,800-square-foot building and one 11,000-square-foot building — centrally located on the site with parking in the front and rear of the buildings.

The design shows one entrance connecting S.R. 64 and cross accesses to both the properties immediately east and west of the side.

“This site is unique because it’s a fairly narrow site, and it’s backed up to the landfill,” said attorney Mark Barnebey, who is representing the developer, Mark Cahill Investments. “It’s kind of an appropriate change (in use) for what’s going on in the area.”

The property currently is farmland, and a home on the property will be demolished.

The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners is set to vote on the project at its Sept. 1 meeting.  Barnebey said if the project is approved, the developer hopes to begin construction soon and expects  development of the plaza to take 12 to 18 months.

Mark Cahill Investments also is responsible for Magnolia Plaza, a 12,000-square-foot retail center approved by the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners in December 2010. The plaza, which is located about a one-half mile east of Lena Road, is expected to open in early 2012.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

In other business

The Planning Commission recommended:

• Approval of a North County Transportation Maintenance Facility on 45 acres between Erie Road and 69th Street East in Parrish. The site eventually would have more than a dozen pieces of mowing and other equipment, as well as employees, stationed at the property, if the project moves forward.

• Approval of an amended development agreement for the 562-home Summer Woods development. The amendment provides for a five-year certificate level of service compliance, dedication of right-of-way and other provisions.

Both items will be heard by the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners for consideration but have not yet been scheduled.