University Parkway luxury apartment complex goes to county commission in April

MANATEE -- A 324-unit resort apartment complex planned along University Parkway cleared another hurdle Thursday.

The proposed project, The Oasis at University, was recommended for approval by the Manatee County Planning Commission a week after the county commission approved a large-scale amendment to residential-16 dwelling units per gross acre for the project. On Thursday, the planning commission recommended for approval the rezone to planned development residential and a preliminary site plan for the 324 multifamily units.

The project would be built on 25.6 acres on the north side of University Parkway, between Florida Street on the east and the S.C.L. Railroad on the west and south of Broadway Avenue. It is expected to go before the county commission for approval on April 7.

"We think the project provides much-needed luxury rental housing for the citizens of Manatee County," said Stephen Novacki, with Picerne Development Corp. of Florida.

There will be one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units at The Oasis at University, with rents ranging from $1,100 to $1,800 per month, according to Novacki.

The project also will have more than 10,000 square feet

of amenities including a state-of-the-art fitness center, pool, game room and a Starbucks-style coffee bar.

Laurie Galle, who lives in Manatee and attended the meeting Thursday, called the project "a good piece of infill."

"We do need more apartments in the area," she said.

The planning commission also:

Recommended for approval a general development plan for an 84-unit residential project and rezone to planned development residential/north central overlay of 29.53 acres on the north side of County Road 675 and east of U.S. 301. Of the 84 units in the proposed Khilnani Parrish subdivision, 34 would be single-family semidetached units and 50 single-family detached units. The commission is expected to consider the project for approval at the April 7 land-use meeting.

Appointed Planning Commissioner Mike Rahn to apply for the Affordable Housing Advisory Board.

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

This story was originally published March 10, 2016 at 8:08 PM with the headline "University Parkway luxury apartment complex goes to county commission in April ."