Commissioners approve plan for 57,000‑sq‑ft grocery center near Moccasin Wallow (5–1)

The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners voted June 4 to approve a plan-development commercial rezoning and preliminary site plan for a grocery-anchored shopping center on a roughly 9-acre parcel at the northeast corner of Moccasin Wallow Road and the adjacent arterial.

Applicant representatives said the proposal is for a roughly 57,000-square-foot grocery with ancillary retail and online-order pickup. "The site is primarily agricultural today; the neighborhood commercial zoning in place today caps typical retail at a smaller footprint," the applicant's representative told the board during the quasi-judicial hearing.

Staff advised commissioners that the site includes wetlands and will require state permitting and mitigation. Cindy Craig, a county planner, said the applicant's proposed open-space and buffer plans meet or exceed county standards but noted wetlands impacts "will require state approvals and mitigation prior to construction." The applicant committed to meeting county stormwater requirements and to adhering to a county-approved truck-route plan.

Public testimony at the hearing raised concerns about wetland impacts and the roads serving the site. One commenter noted the potential effect on roadway level-of-service and potential longer-term congestion.

After brief deliberation, the board approved the rezoning and preliminary site plan with standard conditions, including adherence to state wetland permitting requirements. The motion passed 5–1; Commissioner McCAnn voted no.

Next steps: The applicant must secure any required state wetlands permits and submit final engineering/plans to county staff to demonstrate compliance with stormwater, traffic and truck-route requirements before receiving site development permits.