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After heated public comment, planning panel recommends county EMS station rezone near Lake Manatee 3–2
Summary
Manatee County sought to rezone ~10.16 acres to allow a new 4,740‑sq‑ft EMS station and retain existing county offices. Commissioners voted 3–2 to recommend approval after extensive public testimony raising environmental, septic and roadway safety concerns; staff said the site addresses long EMS response‑time gaps.
Manatee County’s Planning Commission narrowly recommended rezoning 10.16 acres near Lake Manatee to Plan Development Public Interest (PDPI) to allow an expanded EMS facility after extended public comment and a 3–2 vote.
County project representative Dan Bond and James Crutchfield, deputy director of public safety, said the site has housed an EMS unit for roughly 40 years and that local response times average about 17 minutes compared with a countywide average of about 8 minutes. ‘‘We have a dire need to provide additional resources in this area of the county,’’ Crutchfield said, noting the county has procured an ambulance slated to arrive next year and is planning a facility to house two ambulances with space for future growth.
Public speakers were sharply divided. Opponents — including water‑quality advocates and nearby residents — urged denial, arguing the site was purchased historically for watershed protection, that rezoning removes conservation zoning and that locating a new facility there risks water quality because of septic systems, proximity to Lake Manatee and local flooding on Dam/Waterline Road. Rob Brown and members of the Waterline Road Preservation Group recommended co‑locating an EMS facility at the new Fire Station 9 site adjacent to State Road 64.
Staff and county natural‑resources personnel said the proposal retains watershed overlays, will provide required 150% stormwater treatment because of the Lake Manatee Watershed Protection overlay, and must meet enhanced septic and setback requirements (including new state House Bill 1379 nutrient‑reducing septic system requirements where applicable). Environmental staff said septic siting and setbacks (400 feet to Outstanding Florida Waters and 200 feet to jurisdictional wetlands) will be enforced as part of final site design.
Commissioners who supported the recommendation cited the demonstrated EMS need and noted traffic preemption and other measures could mitigate operational safety issues; commissioners opposed raised concerns about conservation land, septic systems, and whether the narrow local roads can reliably support additional emergency vehicle operations. The motion to recommend the rezoning passed 3–2.
Next steps: The recommendation is forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners. Staff said final site plan review will require a full technical review of stormwater, septic design and any FDOT or county transportation permits.
