Roundabout Proposal for University Blvd

To the Manatee Commissioners:

On July 24, 2025, I heard of a first informational roundabout meeting being held at LWR Townhall. As I was walking toward the building, a car went over a berm, onto the pavement of the one-way circle, and continued into the manicured circle, passing by the decorative tree. I was walking just two car lengths from the path of this vehicle. The driver behind the wheel had never been to the Town Hall before.

When I went into this meeting, there were over 100 residents with special conditions - a representation of the vulnerable demographics of Manatee County. After listening to the tone of the agenda from Rex Jensen, all felt they had been hoodwinked by Manatee County. The shock, the disappointment, the frustration, that gut feeling one gets when you have been railroaded, and then the transition to anger was reflected on every person’s face. It was a heartbreaking scene because you can imagine each one thinking their life was changing into a distressing situation.

Their dreams were devastated. The promises of an SMR planned community for those to thrive with their children, take care of their parents, stay in their home as they age – shattered. The absolute indifference of the commissioners and Rex Jensen to a demographic within LWR where many have a disability, are convalescing from an illness or surgery, or are possibly waiting for surgery is disingenuous and deceptive to say the least.

This was the first time that residents heard of a proposed roundabout and then were told right there and then that the developer was going to do this for his shareholders. There was never any clue of this being in anyone’s future, not a public notice, or any letter sent out to residents from our HOA or CDDs. Not a peep. Manatee County commissioners have left a population of people with children, disabilities, special conditions, and promises for aging in place feeling their life will be harder than it has been.

However, here’s the real raw news, I just received:

“I believe Jensen sold the commissioners on the 7/24 meeting as a Town Hall meeting when it was not! It was a joint special meeting of the CDD’s for Jensen to seek their support for the sale of CDD2 Land to create a 'spill lane' on the roundabout he was building! They did not properly notify residents of this meeting; instead, they posted an agenda online and mentioned it in the CEVA newsletter. No one would have shown up if I hadn’t sent an email.” - Carol Cooper.

On August 7, 2025, only after being notified through an email from Carol Cooper, a few individuals were aware of a first meeting at the University roundabout with the Manatee Commissioners. With less than 12 hours of notice, it was impossible to rearrange any children and caregiver responsibilities, or the “hard to get” doctor appointments for those who wanted to participate. I was on that Zoom meeting only as an observer because one needs 24 hours to request an ID number to call in.

To the commissioners, let me remind you that you obviously understand the C++ programming concept – the if … then … else of probabilities. For example, if one does a study on traffic flow, what are the possible outcomes by the time the construction is completed? If there is a lack of transparency?

• For the commissioners, it is: constituents’ voting, budget, ethics, public safety impact, demographics, aerial visualization of future impact, transparency, etc.
• For the developers and marketing of planned communities, it is deceptive lifestyle due to safety dissolving. (e.g., Pedestrian-friendly, bike to the farmers market, families with baby strollers walk to church, and every American dream comes true tactic.) It leads to buyer-beware perceptions.

We all know development is going eastwards.

• University Parkway was planned with land available to widen it to three (3) lanes equally flowing west and east continuing the traffic flow from the intersection at University Parkway and LWR Blvd. past Loraine Road and currently the extension of Bourneside Blvd out east.
• There is space available for a left turn lane into LWR Country Club (which has been developed out) via Legacy Blvd by extending the left turn area 3 to 4 times its current length and changing the traffic signal. This was the first decision for road improvement. Please be reminded that monies were used to change the traffic signals twice within the last three years.
• We should conclude that University Parkway, 70, and 64 become detour roads for I-75 closures to divert traffic as well as have alternative routes for hurricane evacuation.
• Having a roundabout just after a traffic signal at Edgewater will cause a “battalion” situation (a volume of traffic racing forward after a traffic signal turns green) on a large volume scale. Add a confused driver and one has a multi-vehicle pileup. Hurricane evacuations and 1-75 detours will change the manner of traffic. With each day bringing new home buyers - volume will exponentially grow due to ongoing land developments.
• Manatee County owns the roads. Taxpayers fund projects. No developer may mandate their agenda for their shareholders.

No engineering studies have been implemented for the University Blvd. roundabout by Manatee County:

• Where is the Environmental Impact Statement?
• Traffic volume entering Legacy Blvd: landscape and construction contractors, delivery of food to the country club, and semi-trucks for movers and bundled contracts on mulch deliveries. This is the only entrance designed for these functions.
• Traffic volume entering from the east to go to the much-loved Waterside with all its promotions for farmers market, restaurants, and their eclectic events. Most of the vendors come from the Myakka area with trailers. Many rsidents come from the east choosing Waterside in lieu of traveling further west to the coast.
• Evacuations and/or 1-75 detours which will include semi- trailers, cars with trailers, and just plain frightened drivers of thousands of vehicles.
• The scope of development presently claims that 5,500 homes or more (compounded by 2 or more cars per home) will change the volume resulting in extending 3 lanes of roadway for any kind of civilized flow, thus, making a high-volume roundabout non-functioning.
• The final construction of Bourneside Blvd. will permit vehicles coming all the way from Parrish, 64, 70 to access a new route with backway entrance to Waterside in Sarasota County and beyond.
• A study of traffic signals and control of traffic flow is imperative to consider, particularly during evacuation where the Manatee County’s EOC has the ability to see in real time.
• When are studies done? During the tourist season and arrivals of our good neighbors who are snow birds? Or are they done when population numbers are dramatically different?

The lack of transparency dismissing public notice by using the guise of assumption (as was stated by the Public Works Department “Valid Basis”) from past resident responses who were notified or a flippant commentary by Commissioner Kruse that roundabouts need only appear on a consent order is unacceptable and unethical behavior. The “Valid Basis” remark relates to the Loraine and Players roundabout vs traffic signal. The real reason for choosing the traffic signal was the 10,000 feet aerial observation for future evacuation roads that parallel 1-75.

Why are we allowing any developer to influence or intimidate the government? We hopefully have enough critical thinking skills to know that within a very short amount of time (which could be 2030 - as learned in the 8.7.2025 Manatee meeting) when the roundabout starts construction, it will already become a “failing” non-functioning method of traffic control.

This is where the aerial viewpoint and mathematics come to play. This is not a well-thought-out plan, from budget documentation to no public notice for feedback from all Manatee residents who use and will be using University Parkway.

The legacy and reputation of each commissioner are on the line here, from the Gulf Coast to the beautiful countryside landscapes of Myakka. The lack of studies, the lack of documentation for a budget, and a forgetfulness of who they represent and work for is a serious concern. Transparency is of paramount importance – and is drastically missing here!

Ask yourself, why do the citizens have more visionary perception of sensibility than those who are attempting to govern the county?

By no means is this a “not in my backyard” situation. This is a lifestyle catastrophe for each resident in Manatee County. Which area will be affected next?

The SUNSHINE LAW was written for the protection of the citizens of Florida.

Hilary Harter
Citizens for Sensible County Planning