County changes vote on Waterline Road project

EAST COUNTY —  The Manatee County Commission breathed new life into a proposal to build a 195-unit development on a 77.9-acre parcel on Waterline Road, more than a year after the board voted to kill the plan.

Manatee County commissioners approved the Martin-Hillwood project Feb. 5, in a 6-1 vote.

The board denied plans 5-2 for the 195-unit development in September 2013, for several reasons, including Waterline Road’s configuration and compatibility issues.

However, landowners Mary Jane Martin Smith and Richard Martin appealed the decision, filing for mediation. A special magistrate issued an opinion last month that the board should approve the project based Florida statute and county code.

The revised site plan shows the same number of units but more land between the development and the project’s Waterline Road frontage.

“The applicant showed a revised plan with bigger buffers,” said Commissioner Betsy Benac, who voted for the project both times. “Even though they weren’t able to come to a settlement agreement with the county, the special magistrate recommended the rezone and revised plan. If we hadn’t approved it, they said they would continue forward with their lawsuit.”

The property, previously zoned for agriculture, has a future land-use zoning of urban fringe-3, which means a developer can put up to three units per acre on the land. Neighboring properties also are zoned on the future land-use map for up to three units per acre.

Commissioner Robin DiSabatino was the lone commissioner to vote against the application.

“I think the plan that I’m looking at could be improved upon,” she said, adding that she believes the number of units was too high for a single access road.

Waterline Road residents who fought the project in 2013 asked the commission to stick with its denial of the application, saying the project is not compatible with their agricultural community.

“I understand the property owners have property rights and we have property rights also,” neighbor Jack Richardson said. “But, at some point, the king has no clothes. At some point, it just doesn’t make any sense any more.”

Caleb Grimes, the attorney representing the project, said the increased buffering — 150 feet along Waterline Road and 50 feet around the property’s perimeter — is intended to alleviate neighbors’ concerns with changing the landscape of Waterline Road.

“We felt it wasn’t the number (of units) that was the issue; it was more changing the look and feel of Waterline. This is the only remaining large wooded tract,” Grimes said. “(With this design) it becomes isolated and everything is inside.”

Grimes said the property could be developed by the landowners or possibly sold to another developer.

Timeline
September 2013 — Commission denies project

October 2013 — Property owners sue to overturn decision

January 2015 — Special magistrate recommends approval of revised site plan

February 2015 — Commission approves project

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].