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Bradenton council approves Old City Hall comp‑plan change and local development agreement for 345‑unit mixed‑use project
Summary
Council voted 5–0 to amend the plan and approve a local development agreement that allows a density increase for the Old City Hall site; the proposal includes a parking garage, riverfront park, ground‑floor retail and a mitigation plan for coastal hazard evacuation and mangrove impacts.
On May 27 the Bradenton City Council approved a small‑scale comprehensive plan amendment and a Local Development Agreement (LDA) enabling a density increase for the Old City Hall site downtown.
Planning staff described the request to change the future land use from Urban Central Business District to Urban Core, which increases allowable density and floor‑area ratio. The developer team proposed a mixed‑use building with ground‑floor commercial, a public riverfront park and a parking garage; the applicant told council the proposal is for 345 multifamily units (about 94 units per acre) and that the LDA would cap the project at that number. “We are not requesting the full allowance. We are only requesting the 345 units,” the applicant said during the hearing.
Because part of the property lies within the coastal high hazard area, the application included a mitigation plan. The applicant cited a Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council study asserting a current county evacuation clearance time to shelter of 9.5 hours versus the 12‑hour threshold referenced in the plan policy; the developer supplied a mitigation package including adjustments to parking and a program for moving vehicles from lower garage levels during evacuations. Environmental review disclosed roughly 0.04 acres of mangrove impact tied to seawall reconstruction; the applicant proposed mitigation bank credits and permitting as required by state and federal regulators.
The council voted to adopt Ordinance 4067 (future land‑use amendment), approve the density bonus, and authorize the LDA unanimously (5–0). The LDA contains conditions, including a timeframe for execution and engineering/permit requirements for seawall and mitigation work. Staff and the applicant said further design and public‑works review will follow administrative and permitting processes.
Supporters described the project as an infill redevelopment that will activate the riverfront and add residents and customers to downtown businesses; council members pressed for traffic and evacuation assurances and said coordination with FDOT and county transportation planning will continue as part of permitting and site design.
Next steps: the applicant will execute the LDA and proceed with site development reviews, permits, and building approvals consistent with the conditions recorded by council.
