Bradenton wants to annex 3 acres for home improvement store

BRADENTON -- Almost three acres along Morgan Johnson Road near State Road 64 East is being eyed for a new national chain home inprovement store.

But first the landowner is hoping to have the property, which is in Manatee County, annexed by the city of Bradenton.

The voluntary annexation request was made Wednesday in front of the Joint Planning Commission by Greenberg Farrow Architecture, which is representing the land owner MIMCO Properties LLC.

The land consists of four parcels totalling almost 3 acres at 5700 State Road 64 and 711 Morgan Johnson Road and two parcels without addresses. The applicants were silent on which store was being eyed for the site, but they confirmed it was a national chain home improvement retail store.

The JPC did not vote on the annexation request, as it has no binding or statutory authority. It was formed in 2002 during a contentious time between Manatee County and its cities as the county sought more governing control over the cities. The JPC is made up of representatives from the county, Bradenton, Palmetto, the Manatee County School District, and a representative of the three Anna Maria Island cities.

Wednesday's meeting was an opportunity for all involved to learn about the annexation request, which will be formally made to the city at a later date.

Christopher Gratz, development services and zoning manager for the city, said the applicant was told the county may require the developer to pay for improvements to Morgan Johnson Road.

"That part of it is out of the city's hands," said Gratz. "Because Morgan Johnson Road is a county road and there may be some easements and rights of way involved in the development, they will have to come through the county process for that knowing they may be required to pay for improvements. On the city's side, they know they will have to build a new lift station to extend sewer services to the property."

The county insists it needs more time before a JPC decision, but Bob Gause, representing the school district, said he has never known the JPC to make a decision.

"In the times I have been here, we have never voted," said Gause. "The JPC is not a voting body. It's a place where we can all come together to voice concerns, but we don't vote because we aren't a binding body.

Mark Young, Herald urban affairs reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7041 or follow him@urbanmark2014.

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 4:02 PM with the headline "Bradenton wants to annex 3 acres for home improvement store ."