Manatee County to accept proposals for Tom Bennett Park water park with lodging option

MANATEE -- A proposed East Manatee water park could have onsite lodging.

After negotiating with an Orlando-based development company to construct a water park on 20 acres at Tom Bennett Park, 400 Cypress Creek Blvd., the county will issue another request for proposal for "the design, construction, operation, maintenance and marketing of an Aquatic and Recreation Complex." It will also include the possibility for accessory lodging of up to 70 units.

Manatee Lost Lagoon Development LLLP, which has been in negotiations with the county for several months, expressed a desire for a lodging unit to ensure the project's financial viability.

Since the lodging component was not included in the original RFP, county staff recommended another be issued. The Manatee County Commission voted Tuesday 5-2 to issue another RFP to include the accessory lodging. Commissioners Betsy Benac and John Chappie cast dissenting votes.

"I'm not sure why the private sector can't find a nice piece of property that is already zoned and ready for some type of commercial activity like this," Chappie said. "I always try to look at the neighborhoods and what kind of community it is. .. .I'm just concerned about putting this type of activity in this area."

Caleb Grimes, who represents Lost Lagoon Development, said it is prepared to submit another proposal in response to the new RFP. A free-standing hotel would not be allowed as it is not considered an accessory to recreational use, Grimes added.

"In order to be a very successful water park, it needs to have some lodging associated with it," Grimes said. "People want to go there often want to stay a couple of days for a trip like that, and you need associated and accessory lodging. That was something that was necessary to really have a real successful water park at this facility."

Commissioner Charles Smith asked: "Who would build a water park without a hotel when you don't have hotels now?"

"We do have a hotel shortage," Smith said. "To build a water park without a hotel next to it and to make that investment without a hotel, it would just be like rolling dice, in my opinion."

If commissioners decide against a lodging unit at the water park, they would be able to do so in the future, according to the County Attorney's Office.

"There is no guarantee that a proposal will become real

ity," County Attorney Mickey Palmer said.

Lost Lagoon proposes more than a dozen rides, including a ropes course, wave pool, lazy rivers and a number of slides.

While the project will not come before the commission in a quasijudicial land use hearing, the commission would have to approve the contract with the selected water park developer.

While Benac said she wasn't necessarily against a hotel in the area, she wished the process was different.

"I understand the fact that it is an accessory but it is a pretty big accessory," she said. "I have a concern representing the public that there would not be a quasijudicial hearing to determine whether or not that change of use is appropriate in this location."

Since it isn't a quasijudicial hearing, Commissioner Robin DiSabatino said they can talk about the water park with residents and during meetings along the way.

"Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to do that," she said.

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter @Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 11:07 PM with the headline "Manatee County to accept proposals for Tom Bennett Park water park with lodging option ."