Peninsula Bay development in Cortez could feature 1,800 homes

MANATEE -- Mangroves, a potential public boat ramp, mobility trails and utilities. were among the details of Peninsula Bay, a planned new housing development in Cortez, discussed Friday during the Manatee County Development Review Committee meeting.

Developer Whiting Preston and other members of the development team asked questions of Manatee County staff during the hour-long meeting.

Pen Bay 1 LLC, a company owned by the Preston family, submitted the general development plan for Peninsula Bay, which would be built on 359 acres between Cortez Road and Palma Sola Bay, with the county last month. County staff has been reviewing the application, which falls under the large project review process, and provided the applicant with initial comments.

Peninsula Bay plans call for 1,800 homes, a marina, 150-room hotel and 90,000 square feet of commercial and retail space on the land owned by Manatee Fruit Co. The development would be the second tract of Preston farmland in southwest Manatee County sited for housing. The Lake Flores general development plan received Manatee County Commission approval in August.

"Everything we learned in Lake Flores, we incorporated in Peninsula Bay in terms of what Manatee County desires were for these issues," said Eliza Harris Juliano, director of urbanism with Canin Associates. "We took out stuff that wasn't relevant because (Peninsula Bay) is a much smaller project."

One acre of mangroves is expected to be lost in addition to maintenance of mangroves along the navigation channel.

"We are not going to trim any of the preserved mangroves along Palma Sola Bay," said Bill Hamilton, an environmental consultant with B. Hamilton & Associates LLC of Bradenton.

Hamilton also said they have been talking to the county about having a mobility trail through the wetlands next to Cortez Road.

"That area along Cortez Road, ecologically, is a mess," he said. "We've got to come up with some ways to improve it and take advantage and use it. ... It can serve as a great area for trails and walks."

As the applicant continues working with the county on a possible public boat ramp within the development, Caleb Grimes, who represents the developer, said they are expecting the general public to take advantage of project aspects, including the lodging and retail.

"We think it gives a chance for people to stop there and not have to go to (Anna Maria Island)," Grimes said of the potential public boat ramp.

While most of Friday's meeting was spent asking questions about the project, the issue of whether the utilities would be public was left unanswered. Mike Gore, county Utilities Department director, said the development is within a high-hazard area with the potential of damage to underground utilities in the event of a storm, it would be all private.

"We historically turned away from this and, in my eyes, I think we will be opening the door if we allow it," Gore said.

Grimes said he knows the county already owns miles of utilities in the coastal high-hazard areas.

"We should have never have built on that island, either," Gore said. "We inherited a lot of utilities. To add liability there, is kind of where I am sitting at. There is not a lot of wiggle room on my behalf on this."

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

This story was originally published November 20, 2015 at 5:22 PM with the headline "Peninsula Bay development in Cortez could feature 1,800 homes ."