Marina near downtown Bradenton has big expansion plans. But neighbors rally against it.
Tarpon Pointe Marina near downtown Bradenton has plans to double its business footprint, adding eight floating docks and 220 wet slips that would extend into the Manatee River.
But neighbors who just learned of the project through the Army Corps of Engineers say it would block their river views and could cause environmental problems.
Sarasota entrepreneur Eric Baird has submitted an application to the Army Corps of Engineers seeking a permit to construct a 220-wet slip marina, including a sheet pile breakwater structure and a floating wave attenuator on the south shore of the river near a tenant business, Caddy’s Waterfront Restaurant, 801 Riverside Drive E.
“Tarpon Pointe has one of the largest boat storage warehouses in the area,” the marina’s website says. It has an existing 200-slip dry dock facility, and the expansion would add 220 wet slips for a combined 420 slips.
“Approximately 90% of the slips will be available for public rental,” the application said.
The slips would be able to accommodate vessels ranging from 40 to 85 feet in length. The existing dry dock facility holds boats up to 40 feet long.
The neighbors learned about the proposal in a letter from the Army Corps of Engineers, which invited comments on the project through May 12.
Bryran Zoller, who has lived on Riverside Drive since 2005, said the proposed orientation of the dock would block his view of the river.
It would also block the view for Joe Loccisano, who has lived next door since 1990.
Diane Early also owns property on Riverside Drive East.
“What I wish is that there was more conversation with the community. I would have said there is a problem with the view. With most projects, there is a pro-active effort by the developer and the city to communicate,” Early said.
Residents said they don’t have a problem with having Caddy’s on the next block or the Riverwalk extension project, which they say are both assets to the neighborhood.
But they do have a problem with being surprised with a marina expansion project.
“Our immediate concern is that marina. If we don’t say anything in 10 days, our voice is silent,” Charis Grossman said of the time the Army Corps gave for submitting comments.
The Army Corps said the public comment period is just the first step in the review process. The Corps told the Bradenton Herald it “considers all comments received in writing as part of its review process up until a permit decision is made.”
The project, listed at 215 Eight Street E., would also include replacement of 266 feet of concrete seawall and 156 feet of “board-and-batten” retaining wall with 789 feet of new seawall.
The applicant also wants to dredge 3.2 acres to deepen water depth for mooring, entrance and exit.
The proposed project would permanently impact 1,140 feet of mangroves — 965 feet for seawall installation and 175 feet for an access walkway.
The marina expansion would block the river view not only for neighbors, but anyone that walks along the expanded downtown Riverwalk, Grossman said.
“What are they going to do? Draw a picture of the river on the Riverwalk?” she said.
The project is out of scale with the neighborhood, Zoller said.
“It would block our view and have numerous negative impacts to our beautiful Manatee River,” he said.
Asked about the project, Jeannie Roberts, the City of Bradenton’s communications coordinator, said in an email that no one had contacted the city about it.
“I have checked with three folks in Planning, (Permitting, Planning, Zoning) and have been told that no one has approached Planning about development at Tarpon Point, about boat slips or otherwise,” she said in an email.
Baird did not immediately respond to a call for comment on the project.
Tracy Hurst, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers representative, said neighbors could submit their concerns directly to her in writing, within 21 days of the public notice (or May 12, 2022). at Tracy.E.Hurst@usace.army.mil.
Comments may also be submitted via standard mail to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 10117 Princess Palm Avenue, Suite 120, Tampa, Florida, 33610. Any person may request a public hearing, submitted in writing to the district engineer via email.
For more information about the proposal, visit https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Public-Notices/Article/3006600/saj-2006-07775-sp-teh/.
This story was originally published May 4, 2022 at 5:50 AM.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that the 21-day comment period is not the only opportunity for residents to comment on the project.
