Bradenton protesters vow not to quit fighting proposed relocation of Glazier-Gates Park

BRADENTON -- If the Bradenton City Council votes Wednesday to relocate Glazier-Gates Park for the 521-unit Villages at Riverwalk rental development, those opposed are vowing legal action.

"We'll go to court," Stone Soup Community Unity vice president Barbara Elliott said Tuesday during a protest at the park.

Stone Soup was formed to oppose a proposed land swap between the city and Atlanta-based Hatfield Development Co., with the local development team of NDC Construction, ZNS Engineering and attorney Ed Vogler.

"We'll never give up the park. Period," said Elliott, whose group is now being represented by former Bradenton Beach city attorney Ralf Brookes.

The Cape Coral attorney claims the city is violating its comprehensive plan, which states the city cannot divert park space unless there is overriding public interest such as a hospital or school. Brookes also said the city is in violation because it was required to establish a master parks plan by 2010 and has yet to do so.

Elliott would not elaborate further on the group's legal strategy.

"We'll keep all of our eggs in a basket for now," said Elliott. "The city thinks we only have one and we'll keep it that way for now."

City officials had continued the public hearing on the proposed special area plan, which includes the swap, to 6 p.m. Wednesday, after a four-hour meeting Sept. 23 where opposition to the deal far outweighed support.

The proposal is to move the park from its current location in the 1000 block of Manatee Avenue East to the north along Riverside Drive East near the Manatee River. Officials say the new location would be better suited as a public space for an eventual expansion of the Riverwalk.

Those opposed to the swap said they are not against development, but they are against losing a historic park with century-old trees. Karen Willey, from the Florida Native Plant Society, said the city fails to understand the importance and need for urban forests like the one that has protected the park's ecosystem through a century of development.

"They are going to cut down these trees, and we need this last little bit of urban forest," Willey said. "The city argues that these trees are at the tail end of their lives, and that's true, but only for a few laurel oaks. The live oaks will continue to grow and create a natural habitat for wildlife and migratory birds."

Hatfield purchased the surrounding 20 acres for $4 million late last year out of foreclosure. The property around the park had been in foreclosure for years after the proposed Riviera Southshore condominium project failed during the Great Recession.

Vogler has argued that Hatfield, by right, could proceed with the already approved condominium site plan, which called for condo towers of up to nine stories.

He said Hatfield is investing $75 million into an area of downtown that is in great need of revitalization. The developer would pay $2 million in impact fees, of which $200,000 would be for park improvements.

Hatfield also proposes to build public amenities along the Manatee River, relocate and repair all of the playground equipment in Glazier Gates Park, build sidewalks and lighting on public streets within the project area and repave Fourth Street East, as well as rebuild a failing city lift station and pay for the new park's construction.

Stone Soup president Kim Youngshepherd said Tuesday's protest was an opportunity to garner last-minute support before Wednesday's meeting. With "Save Our Park" and "Save Our History" signs, the group of about 10 people lined Manatee Avenue East and driver after driver sounded off their support with the honking of horns. To date, the group has collected more than 1,500 signatures on a petition to save the park.

"It pretty much boils down to the city council not listening to the public," said Youngshepherd.

Robert Pelot, owner of Pelot's Pharmacy just two blocks away, acknowledged that a new development would be good for business. Yet he values the history of the park even more.

"The park has been here for over 100 years," said Pelot. "I have doubts about the way the city is handling this, and if they move the park, it will never be what it once was."

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

This story was originally published October 13, 2015 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Bradenton protesters vow not to quit fighting proposed relocation of Glazier-Gates Park ."