Palmetto neighbors want private Redfish Cove dock construction halted
PALMETTO -- Six residential boat docks being built at a new housing project near Snead Island are at the center of an argument about who can build over the water in an area already inundated with boat slips.
Opponents say the docks at Redfish Cove, a planned high-end single family home development on the Manatee River front, are being built in tidal shallows that host sea grass fields and manatees. Some are also concerned about the loss of water views they have.
The developers say they are building amenities buyers of the million-dollar homes to be built at Redfish Cove will want, and they're exercising the same right other property owners in the area have.
The six-home Redfish Cove was approved by Palmetto this year. Developers Jeff Gravely and James Stephenson also applied for and received a state permit to build a 10-slip community dock for the six-home community. It was to be built alongside a dredge hole in the shallow bay fronting the 11th Street Court West development. Access to the river was to be through a dredged channel.
The development is in the middle of an area inundated with boat moorage, including dozens of slips at the Bradenton Yacht Club, Marsh Harbor Marina and Cut's Edge Marina. With access to the Snead Island Cut, the area's boat moorage has direct access to the Manatee River and Terra Ceia Bay.
On Nov. 3, Gravely and Stephenson asked Palmetto for a "minor modification" to its general development plan under which the community dock was replaced by six individual docks. The city issued six dock permits Nov. 14.
Several neighbors have brought vocal opposition to the dock project to the Palmetto City Commission and have appealed the permit issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. When construction on the individual docks started a week ago, neighbor Amy Griswold said she felt betrayed by the city. She said she and several other neighbors who have opposed the construction of docks or a marina at the site received no notification construction was beginning.
"They caved in and didn't protect us," she said of Palmetto city officials.
Early opposition to the project centered on the state classifying the community dock as "commercial" because it would require a state underwater lands lease if built. When the issue came up at an April 21 public hearing for Redfish Cove, the Palmetto City Commission approved the development's site plan with the stipulation the dock would be only for the private use of Redfish residents.
DEP officials were unaware of the project's change in status until about a week ago, when a nearby resident called to complain about the construction. Amy Gibbs, a spokeswoman for the agency, said DEP officials will visit the construction site this week or next to determine whether the reconfigured docks are in keeping with the original state permit.
A change in project design is typically handled by modifying the state permit, she said.
Gravely said the decision to move to single docks came as market demand for private docks outgrew that for communal dockage.
The final dock project is expected to have a smaller footprint than the initial community dock, Gravely said. When complete, the docks will likely provide moorage for boats in the 18- to 32-foot classes. The docks are the only construction Gravely and Stephenson's company, Redfish Cove LLC, is handling directly. The lots, each bundled with a dock, will be sold off to individual buyers who will be able to hire from a list of approved builders.
Concerned about the view
Neighbors do not oppose Gravely's and Stephenson's development. In fact, said RaNae Contarino, president of the Captain's Point Condominium Association on 11th Street Court West, most welcome it. The new homes will replace a set of low-rent apartments that were torn down in July.
However, Contarino said the docks may clutter views for residents and bring additional boat noise to Captain's Point. While Captain's Point itself has boat slips adjoining the condo building on the Snead Island Cut, Contarino said she doesn't believe there is a need for more just yards away at Redfish Cove.
She said she is also concerned boats and docks in the cove will disturb the manatees she said she sees there on a regular basis.
Contarino said she was most concerned by what she sees as a lack of notice from the city. While members of her association were recently notified Redfish Cove was planning to build a fence, she did not receive warning a change in the developments dock plan was in the offing.
Jim Freeman, Palmetto city clerk, said the change to the Redfish site plan that allowed for the individual docks did not require public notice. The vote on the change was listed on an agenda issued prior to the Palmetto commission's Nov. 3 meeting.
Gravely said dock construction will finish next week.
Matt M. Johnson, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7027, or on Twitter @MattAtBradenton.
This story was originally published November 26, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Palmetto neighbors want private Redfish Cove dock construction halted."