Bradenton approves rezoning and comp plan changes for Westminster campus after wide public debate

Bradenton City Council on Aug. 13 adopted a citywide text amendment that allows consideration of increased density in the Coastal High Hazard Area and approved a related map amendment and rezoning for the Westminster retirement campus in Point Pleasant.

The council approved the text amendment (Ordinance 4035) earlier in the meeting and later voted to adopt the campus-specific future-land-use map amendment (Ordinance 4036) and a T‑5 rezoning (Ordinance 4037) after a long public hearing and debate. The two property-specific ordinances passed on final reading 4–1; Councilwoman Moore cast the lone “no” vote. The council recorded a separate 5–0 vote earlier to transmit and adopt the enabling text change that permits consideration of density increases in evacuation Zone A when paired with a binding mitigation/development agreement.

Why it matters: Westminster Communities of Florida — which operates the Point Pleasant campus — is seeking to secure the development rights required to replace aging buildings and maintain the campus population as it redevelops. Westminster and its planning team told the council the current on‑site built density predates the city’s current future‑land‑use rules, that the campus needs the ability to rebuild to maintain housing for older adults, and that modern replacement buildings would be built to current Florida building codes and evacuation requirements.

What the ordinances do: The adopted comp plan text amendment creates the statutory pathway for city council to approve future‑land‑use map changes that increase density in the Coastal High Hazard Area only after the city and property owner enter a binding mitigation/development agreement describing evacuation and other measures. The Westminster map amendment changes about 15.95 acres from…