Braden River Shores would bring 413 homes to East Manatee

A 413-home subdivision on 140 acres south of the Braden River and east of Mixon Fruit Farms could be coming to East Manatee.

McClure Properties, which also operates under the West Coast Tomato brand in Palmetto, is seeking rezoning and site plan approvals for Braden River Shores from Manatee County government.

The property, which has agricultural zoning, extends north to the Braden River and is bisected by 26th Avenue East at 39th Street East. McClure is seeking planned development residential zoning for the property. Earlier this week, representatives of McClure Properties leased space at Mixon Fruit Farms to share information about the project with neighboring residents.

D.R. Horton, a home construction company based in Fort Worth, Texas, has a contract to buy the property from McClure Properties.

“We know how to grow tomatoes,” Bob Spencer, president of West Coast Tomato, said Thursday. “Occasionally, we sell some raw land to people who know how to grow houses. Hopefully it will work out for everyone.”

In documents filed with Manatee County, the property is described as improved pasture with exotic hardwoods, mangrove swamp, saltwater marsh and agricultural ditches and ponds.

No impacts are expected on the 8.93 acres of wetlands on the property. About 64 acres would remain as open space.

Braden River Shores is bordered by low-density development on the east and south sides, and by Sugar Creek Country Club Travel Trailer Park on the west, described as high density development.

A portion of the proposed development abuts the Braden River, along a manatee protection zone.

Braden River Shores would have two access points on 26th Avenue East and two access points along 39th Street East. A traffic study included with county documents forecasts 3,717 daily trips would be generated by the new neighborhood.

D.R. Horton, which describes itself as the largest home construction company in the United States, has built a number of other neighborhoods in Manatee County, including Del Tierra, Legends Bay, San Lorenzo and Rye Wilderness.

Manatee County staff has until Aug. 16 to complete their comments on the development request.

This story was originally published August 3, 2017 at 2:44 PM with the headline "Braden River Shores would bring 413 homes to East Manatee."