Robinson Gateway and Parrish Lakes developers working to bring huge changes to Manatee County's North River

PARRISH -- Although neither of the huge projects will be built tomorrow, movement is afoot for Robinson Gateway and Parrish Lakes.

The neighboring developments of regional impact have a combined 1.9 million square feet of planned retail and office space plus nearly 4,000 homes.

Robinson Gateway is headed to the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, which is expected to sign off on the project Monday.

The neighboring Parrish Lakes project is the subject of negotiations between county officials and the developer over transportation mitigation and timing.

Regional planning council action is "an important final step in getting the approvals," said Edward Vogler II of Bradenton, an attorney for the Robinson Gateway project and co-owner of the property.

Robinson Gateway, originally imagined by Bill Robinson and being carried forward by his son, Will Robinson, would bring 350 hotel rooms and 1,750 cinema seats to a relatively compact 288-acre property 2 1/2 miles south of the Hillsborough County line off Interstate 75.

Robinson Gateway would also have 900,000 square feet of retail, 600,000 square feet of office space and 542 residential units.

The developer is identifying potential businesses and builders for the Robinson Gateway project, Vogler said.

Parrish Lakes has been in the works since at least 2009, but was sidetracked by the Great Recession.

Developer Florida Land Management of Brandon wants to build 3,300 homes, and 400,000 square feet of office and retail space on 1,155 acres south of Moccasin Wallow Road. Parrish Lakes borders Robinson Gateway and Pulte's Harrison Ranch property.

William Merrill of Icard Merrill, Sarasota, serves as agent for Parrish Lakes.

Since the project was reintroduced after the recession, Parrish Lakes developers have met only once with county staff, Merrill said. It's premature to talk about negotiation specifics, Merrill said, but construction could begin in 2016.

Lisa Barrett, Manatee County case manager for the Parrish Lakes project, confirmed the county and Florida Land Management are in talks over transportation issues.

Manatee County's North River area, which includes Parrish and the area north of Ellenton, is approved or has approvals pending for construction of 23,095 new homes, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.Parrish Lakes and Robinson Gateway are expected to be built out over about two decades.

James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee reporter, can be contacted at 941-745-7053 or on Twitternote>

This story was originally published June 5, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Robinson Gateway and Parrish Lakes developers working to bring huge changes to Manatee County's North River ."