Cruise port gets ‘rapid response’ from Manatee County. What does that mean?

Social media posts are spreading misinformation about what a Manatee County Government letter means for a proposed cruise port terminal near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

In January, Tampa-based company Slip Knott LLC filed plans to build a cruise port terminal on a 328-acre property in Manatee County’s Terra Ceia area and asked county officials for an initial meeting about the project.

County staff sent a letter to the applicant confirming that the project qualifies for the county’s “Rapid Response” program. Some posts and comments falsely claim the letter means the project is guaranteed approval, or that county staff are endorsing the project.

“Sounds like they are all for this project and willing to help pass the permitting through “rapidly”!” said a post about the letter that was shared 130 times as of Thursday evening.

“Welp looks like we’re getting a cruise port,” said another social media post featuring the letter that received over 450 comments.

But it’s actually a standard letter issued to certain kinds of projects. The program slightly speeds up consideration for projects that could have a significant economic impact, such as creating many new jobs, in Manatee County. The rapid response designation does not guarantee approval.

Cruise port ‘rapid response’ explained

State statute requires county staff to review a formal application within 30 days of submission. However, with a rapid response designation — like what was given to the proposed cruise terminal — county staff has 21 days to review it.

If it moves forward, the project must undergo an extensive review and approval process, including legally required public hearings before the Manatee County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners.

It will also require approvals from state and federal agencies.

In an interview with the Bradenton Herald, Deputy County Administrator Courtney De Pol said that it could be as long as a year before the project arrives in front of county commissioners for a vote.

“It’s likely that we’ll hire a consultant, and the review timeline could take even longer than that,” De Pol said.

The project team met with county staff on Jan. 30 for a “very informal meeting,” according to De Pol. The meeting outlined an extensive list of local rules that project planners will have to navigate if the proposal moves forward.

“There will be many, many opportunities for the public to comment in a very constructive way and get their voices heard,” De Pol said.