Affordable, workforce housing could come to Palmetto

MANATEE -- With affordable housing already limited in Manatee County, some relief may be coming to Palmetto.

A development, which would include affordable and workforce housing, is planned for the southwest corner of Ellenton-Gillette Road and 29th Street East in Palmetto.

The Ellenton Landings project would bring 136 multifamily units in 14 buildings.

In 2007, the Manatee County Commission approved a rezone to planned development residential and a preliminary site plan, which included the affordable and workforce housing components, for the 15.17 acres. The preliminary site plan and certificate level of service have expired, according to agenda materials.

The preliminary site plan, which designates at least 25 percent of the units as affordable housing and another 25 percents as workforce housing, was recommended for approval Thursday by the Manatee County Planning Commission. The preliminary site plan could receive final approval from the county commission Dec. 3.

School teachers and police officers are among the people looking for affordable housing in Manatee and Sarasota counties, planning Commissioner Tanya Lukowiak said.

"Working people around here can't afford to buy a house," Lukowiak said. "It's a much-needed process."

Manatee County resident Timothy Crook, who lives near Ellenton-Gillette Road, voiced concerns about the proposed development.

"I'm not opposed to development but I don't want development to cause problems," Crook said. "There are already problems on the roads. ... We don't need undesirable elements. It doesn't sound like they are trying to attract good neighborhoods."

Larry Lieberman, who spoke on behalf of the applicant, said affordable housing is not low-income housing. Lieberman cited another project with affordable housing called Carolina Landings off University Parkway.

"We aren't going to rent to someone that is not going to pay their rent," he said. "We wouldn't be in business for 40 years if we tried that. Our goal is to do affordable housing and mix nonaffordable housing in the same property."

Within Ellenton Landings, dwelling units and rental rates will not vary from a nonaffordable or nonworkforce housing to a workforce housing, Lieberman said.

"There will be no distinction other than we have to keep track for county records once a year," he said.

With unit sizes varying from 1,190 square feet to 1,397 square feet, Ellenton Landings will be family oriented and have two- and three-bedroom townhouses, Lieberman said.

"It's for people who can't afford a house or want to move into this before they move into a house," he said.

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

This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 6:49 PM with the headline "Affordable, workforce housing could come to Palmetto ."