Board declines county lease; directs demolition process at Cortez Marina after structure deemed unsafe

Manatee County commissioners directed staff to proceed with plans for Cortez Marina without granting a temporary county lease to Annie’s Bait & Tackle, and to move forward on demolition and longer‑term site planning after inspections found the building substantially damaged.

The board voted 6–1 to direct staff to continue development planning but to not enter into a lease that would have allowed the former operator to continue temporary operations on the site. Commissioner Marshall Sadiq made the motion and Commissioner Pam Feltz seconded it; Commissioner Bearden cast the lone opposing vote.

County staff and consultants briefed the board after an engineering inspection, building‑official review and fire marshal assessment that concluded the building had suffered catastrophic structural damage during recent storms and was now in a flood zone (VE 11) requiring a rebuilt facility to be elevated to 12 feet above base flood elevation. "The building is unsafe and should be condemned," Deputy County Administrator Brian Parnell said, summarizing the multiple professional assessments.

The board considered alternatives including temporary trailers and ADA‑compliant portable restrooms; staff estimated a temporary setup could cost roughly $150,000–$250,000 and typically would be allowed only for limited periods (often up to 180 days) by permitting rules. Purchasing or leasing such temporary facilities would not replace the long work required to rebuild a permanent, elevated structure and to obtain submerged‑lands permits and Army Corps approvals for water‑side work.

The former operator, Bruce Shear, addressed the commissioners and said rebuilding the business on its existing footprint would cost him roughly $100,000 and that the county‑led proposal would not restore the full, viable business he had run for decades. Shear said a stripped‑down temporary option would not be commercially viable. Other residents urged the board to preserve the site’s historical and working‑waterfront character and urged public‑private options to restore amenities.

Commissioners debating the item were split over whether the county should subsidize a private business or seek a longer‑term site plan that integrates marina functionality, boat ramps and parking. Supporters of moving ahead without a lease argued the county must avoid creating a de facto taxpayer‑subsidized private business and preserve flexibility for a larger marina redevelopment. Opponents urged doing whatever was needed to keep an iconic community business in operation.

The board’s motion directs staff to proceed with demolition planning for the damaged building and to continue site planning for the marina property; it specifically excluded authorizing a county lease to allow temporary operations in the immediate term. Staff was directed to return with implementation steps, permitting timelines (including Army Corps coordination for water work) and cost estimates for both temporary operations and a new permanent marina build.