288-acre development in Parrish approved creating a new northern gateway to Manatee County
MANATEE -- Manatee County will have a new north entrance way in the next 10 years after the county commission approved Robinson Gateway, a 288-acre multi-use development, located about two miles south of the Hillsborough county line.
Despite expressing traffic concerns, the commission unanimously approved the project. The plan includes 542 residential units, 900,000 square feet of retail space, 600,000 square feet of office space, a 1-750-seat movie theater and 350 hotel rooms. The project also touts about 40 acres of open space and parks.
Assistant county attorney Bill Clague said recent changes in state law prevent local government from prohibiting development over traffic concerns and the costs to build new roadways.
"The dilemma is we are approving all these projects going further and further out," Commissioner Robin DiSabatino said. "We are in a real pickle."
Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said there will be impact fees to help cover the necessary roadways.
"We are collecting monies now to cover that," Baugh said, adding that the conversation about improving existing roads still needs to occur. "This is a little bit different. I wish we had more coming before us like this project. ...I think we are blessed on this one."
The county commission approved the new, multi-use development of regional impact report, in addition to the associated general-development plan and zoning ordinance.
Robinson Land Holdings Joint Venture owns the land and the developer is MW Gateway Development LLC of Bradenton. Robinson Gateway, to be constructed on the former site of a tree farm and nursery, is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, according to Rachel Layton, director of planning with ZNS Engineering.
"This is in the north county area, a very fast growing area," said Ed Vogler, the developer's attorney. "There are not very many neighborhood or community serving projects."
Robinson Gateway would be east of I-75 on the north side of Moccasin Wallow Road and on the west side of Carter Road.
"I'm glad we are providing infrastructure for north county that is needed with the development that is coming," Commissioner Carol Whitmore said. "I think the north county is ready for this."
At buildout, the development's annual property taxes will yield $6.3 million in revenues to Manatee County, according to county documents. County impact fees for roads, fire and emergency medical services, parks and utility fees are expected to exceed $23 million by buildout.
Commission chairwoman Betsy Benac said people want to live in Manatee County so there has been growth in the county and that will continue.
"This issue of how we are going to fund transportation is a big issue for this state," Benac said. "Development pressures have been here before they will be here after we are long gone."
Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024 or at caronson@bradenton.com. Follow her on Twitter@Claire_Aronson.
This story was originally published April 2, 2015 at 2:41 PM with the headline "288-acre development in Parrish approved creating a new northern gateway to Manatee County."