Mote foundation offers land to Longboat Key

Right now, Longboat Key is lacking about an acre of recreation or open space to meet guidelines outlined in its comprehensive plan.

That could change, thanks to an offer from the Mote Scientific Foundation, which has offered to sell about two-and-a-half acres of vacant land to the town for use as open space, a park or other purposes, according to a June 27 memo from Planning, Zoning and Building Director Alaina Ray.

The plot of land is zoned for commercial uses, and sits at the corner of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Jungle Queen Way — just north of Joan Durante Park. Originally owned by William R. Mote, who established the foundation in 1963, the land is worth $1.1 million, according to the Manatee County property appraiser’s website.

The foundation is not affiliated with Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

The town’s comprehensive plan defines the level of service standards for open space and recreation land as 12 acres per 1,000 peak seasonal residents. That works out to 213.82 acres, but the town currently owns 212.96 acres.

If the town were to pursue purchasing the land, it would have about $2.7 million available in its land acquisition fund, which is designated for the purchase, expansion and improvement of parks and open space. The Longboat Observer highlighted the growing fund in a June 15 article.

Since the property is so close to Durante Park, and the town is already greatly expanding its recreation opportunities at Bayfront Park, any potential uses of the foundation’s parcel would be “minimal,” according to a staff presentation.

In her memo, Ray said the town would have to reevaluate its collection of fees that feed into the land acquisition fund if it meets the code’s level of service standards, which it would exceed with the purchase of the foundation land.