Manatee County officials say no to these housing projects. Here’s why.
Citing concerns about traffic, flooding and other issues, Manatee County commissioners recently denied plans for two future residential communities.
Manatee County commissioners recently denied plans for two future residential communities.
At a Land Use Meeting on Thursday, Manatee County officials did not approve a proposed apartment complex in the Tara community off State Road 70.
They also rejected plans for a new neighborhood called Crosswinds South in Parrish.
Parrish neighborhood proposal fails
Commissioners voted unanimously to deny a new neighborhood, Crosswinds South, from moving forward in Parrish.
The proposal called for Central Florida developer Clayton Properties Group and Highland Homes to build 97 single-family homes on 34 acres just east of U.S. 301, between County Road 62 and Rutland Road.
Residents of nearby neighborhoods Crosswind Point and Crosswind Ranch collected more than 200 signatures in a Change.org petition against the Crosswind South project.
Oak Hill Way, a road that goes through Crosswind Point, was cited as a concern in the petition as it would be the only entrance and exit for the new Crosswinds South development.
“I’ve already had residents in Oak Hill Way and the Crosswinds subdivision that are having issues in their own subdivision, and they are very concerned with running more traffic through (their neighborhood),” Commissioner Carol Ann Felts said.
“It’s still a piece of property stuck in the middle of nowhere that has no way out except for on, arguably, one of the worst roads we’ve got right now, which is Spencer Parrish (Road),” Commissioner George Kruse said. “That road is not getting fixed tomorrow. It’s 94 homes on top of all the ones still getting built. That road is going to become a major problem.”
In addition, there were concerns about flooding in the area with new homes and roads getting built higher than the surrounding neighborhoods.
“If you’re just going to raise something up, then the next person is going to raise something up and the person after that is going to raise something up,” Kruse said. “And next thing you know, we’re building a pyramid and everyone on the bottom who built first is just gonna get flooded out every single time.”
Scott Rudacille, a lawyer representing the developer, said the project exceeds the county’s stormwater requirements.
“In terms of impact on the area, we are required to provide a 50% reduction in the post-development runoff rate for the site,” Rudacille said. “This project is consistent and compatible with what’s going on in that area. It meets all the requirements of (the county’s code).”
Apartments denied
County officials also voted 5-2 against a 72-unit apartment complex near State Road 70 and Interstate 75. Dozens of residents of the Tara community came to Thursday’s meeting wearing red shirts to oppose the project.
They said they were concerned about traffic if more housing arrived. Residents also said they had not seen development plans, so they were worried the new complex would not fit with the community’s character.
Residents said they would rather have a commercial development on the site.
“It’s … something they can build on for commercial use,” Commissioner Bob McCann said. “Commercial use would benefit them, more housing wouldn’t.”
Mike Ruffino, who has owned the land since 2006, said he understands the concerns from residents, but they aren’t looking at the entire issue.
“They keep saying they want commercial built on that property, so they could use it (and) it’s going to lower traffic flow,” Ruffino said. “It’s going to raise traffic flow, because outside people are going to come in to use (their) commercial, a McDonald’s or whatever is going to be there.”
Ruffino argued that an apartment building concept would work a lot better, but a majority of commissioners disagreed.
What happens next?
With plans denied, developers cannot move forward with building. But they can come back to the commission with new or modified proposals at a future date.
This story was originally published May 13, 2025 at 5:50 AM.
