Many of you living in the Manatee-Sarasota County area here on Florida’s west coast have been reading a great deal in the local newspapers about the proposed large mixed use development on Long Bar Pointe on the northeast shore of Sarasota Bay. A number of citizen and environmental organizations have come out with strong condemnations of the project. Over and above its sheer size and the fact that it would require an amendment of Manatee County’s Comprehensive Plan to meet environmental standards, the main concern is the creation of a deep water boat channel and large marina in a sensitive environmental area that includes mangroves, seagrass beds and shallow water that are vital as a nursery for Sarasota Bay. The project will be discussed before the Manatee County Commission at 1:30 PM on Tuesday, August 6th. Community interest in the project has prompted the commissioners to move the meeting to the Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd. in Palmetto, to accommodate a larger audience. We encourage those interested in learning more about the various issues involved to attend.
