Manatee Planning Commission recommends three denials, finding the applications inconsistent with the community's best interests

BRADENTON — On Thursday, the Manatee County Planning Commission issued three recommendations for application denials, two for residential development and one for an amendment to the master mining plan at the four corners site by phosphate giant Mosaic.

Mosaic sought an amendment to it existing Master Mining Plan for the Four Corners Mine, amending the following: 1) extending the mining termination date to December 31, 2044 and reclamation termination date to December 31, 2055; 2) updating the Four Corners Mine boundary to include 84 acres of the Southeast Tract Master Mine Plan and 1,162 acres of the Wingate East Master Mining Plan to be known as the “East Duette Tract” and allowing material mined there to be processed through the Four Corners Beneficiation Plant (FCBP); 3) allowing continued processing of Hardee County reserves from south pasture extension and Ona Mine through the FCBP; and 4) updating the following four plans applicable to the Four Corners Mine: life of Mine Waste Disposal Plan, Transportation Plan, Reclamation Plan, and Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMP). 

Commissioners were clearly uncomfortable with such a lengthy blanket extension, which they did not find compatible with county regulations or in the best interest of the community. Commissioners recommended the approval of a request for a Local Development Agreement, acknowledging the applicants' vested rights relating to mining activities within the Four Corners Mine, and the rescission of the Development of Regional Impact 6-0. 

However, the commission voted 6-0 to recommend that the BOCC deny the extension of the master mining plan, finding the request to be inconsistent with the county comp plan and phosphate mining code, while acknowledging the vesting rights. Staff was directed to amend and bring back the master mining plan consistent only with such vested rights.

Yoder Land Holdings LLC sought a rezone of approximately 80.70 acres from A-1/CPA (Agricultural Suburban/Coastal Planning Area Overlay) to PDR (Planned Development Residential) and the approval of a General Development Plan for 80 single-family detached dwelling units approximately 0.15 miles west of the 18th Avenue East and 57th Street East (aka Morgan Johnson Road) intersection. The board voted 6-0 to recommend denial due to compatibility and traffic issues.

Rye Road LLC and Yort, LLC. sought a rezone of approximately 31.32 acres on the west side of Rye Road and north of the future extension of Mulholland Road in Parrish from A (General Agriculture) to PDR (Planned Development Residential) and approval of a Preliminary Site Plan for a total of 733 single family units on 464.74 acres, which included the 31.32 acres subject to be rezoned and 433.417 acres immediately adjacent to the south, already zoned PDR, partially located within the Coastal Evacuation Area, Coastal High Hazard, and Coastal Planning Area Overlays. It, too, was rejected 6-0 due to compatibility and traffic issues.

The planning commission is a non-binding advisory committee that makes recommendations to the BOCC on land use matters. All three items will now go to the Manatee County Commission for consideration.

Click here to access the meeting's agenda.