Commissioners approve 195,000 sq ft PDC for State Road 64 intersection despite traffic concerns

The Manatee County Board approved a Planned Development Commercial (PDC) on April 23 to rezone roughly 15.3 acres at the State Road 64/Line Road intersection for up to 195,000 square feet of commercial uses distributed across three project areas. The applicant emphasized a mix of neighborhood-serving uses — a capped 1,000-square-foot grocery option in project area one, a childcare facility, restaurants and self-storage in project area three — and presented updated traffic and stormwater work.

Staff and the applicant’s consultants told commissioners the SR 64 corridor is already operating above adopted level of service; the project team presented Atlas 14–based stormwater designs and pledged a 50% post-development flow-rate reduction and buffer/mitigation measures. Several residents urged postponement until roadway widening and roundabout work is complete; others supported the project as a source of local services that could reduce longer trips.

After deliberation about vested-trip accounting, right-of-way reservations and project-specific site controls, the board voted to approve the PDC. The vote included directions to staff to track the known road and drainage commitments through the PSP/permit stage. Commissioners asked for follow-up on implementation details during PSP review and any subsequent PSP approvals.

Key votes and next steps: The PDC was approved (recorded roll/voice vote in the meeting minutes). The project will advance to preliminary and final site-plan review where the project's traffic-staged mitigation and Atlas 14 stormwater modeling will be reviewed in detail by county engineering staff.

Speakers on record included county staff, the applicant’s lead consultant and several residents who spoke during the public hearing.