Comp plan shouldn’t allow Lakewood Ranch West

I attended the May 4 Manatee County Commission meeting about Long Bar Point on our fragile Sarasota Bay shoreline. Project representative Ed Vogler said they have some upscale designers. And he stated that, with the proposed 78,000 square-foot retail development, Aqua by the Bay could be as exquisite as Lakewood Ranch.

He said it. Wait a minute. Is that what's going to be on our fragile coast? Another Main Street Lakewood Ranch? Assuming it's open to we downscale folks, what kind of traffic pattern will that bring? Is this really comp plan compatible?

I also question the project's intention to bring in fill to elevate the 500 acres out of FEMA's purview. Is that comp plan compatible? Who approves what will come in on those oh-so-many dump trucks? What kind of fill? Who will be watching when those dumpers come in at midnight? Who approves dumping above FEMA? How can that shoreline be approved for this? In a Category 1-5 hurricane, where will that fill fall? On the mangroves? In the project's proposed lagoon? Will it flow onto its neighbors? Or, worst of all, will those oh-so-many tons of dirt leech into Sarasota Bay, choking out every little bit of precious wildlife, sea life and fragile mangroves? How could all this be permitted use? Who does the permitting?

I just don't understand. Decades ago when the State asked governments to create comp plans, did this county government intend to allow Carlos Beruff and Ed Vogler to create Lakewood Ranch West on this precious shoreline? Aren't Longboat Key and the three governments on Anna Maria Island going to step up, speak out? I don't care what the erroneous staff report says or will say. I sure as heck do care what our elected officials do. We aren't campaign donors. We pay you! We are watching.

This story was originally published May 24, 2017 at 11:03 AM with the headline "Comp plan shouldn’t allow Lakewood Ranch West."