Manatee County seeks public input regarding Community Redevelopment Areas

Manatee County Neighborhood Services Department will host three evening meetings to gather public input and to answer questions about the possibility of joining a nearby Community Redevelopment Area. The meetings will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

• Monday, Nov. 8, at the South County Library, 6081 26th St. W., Bradenton

• Tuesday, Nov. 9, at Renaissance on 9th, 1816 Ninth St. W., Bradenton

• Tuesday, Nov. 16, at the Dan P. McClure Auditorium, 5900 Airport Auditorium Lane, Sarasota (Enter from U.S. 41 to General Spaatz Blvd.)

“At these meetings, we’ll explain a bit about the process and hear any views that may come up from residents and business owners in the three areas,” said Cheri Coryea, Neighborhood Services Department Director. “This is an opportunity to explain what a CRA is and what it means to the people who live and do business within the CRA. We’ll answer any questions the public has about CRAs.”

A CRA is an independent taxing district set up by the County to improve a specific geographic area, increasing the tax base and encouraging both public and private improvements. A CRA does not levy taxes, but it receives the increment of increase (if any) from rising property values in the years after the redevelopment plan is adopted. These funds are then required to be spent to implement the redevelopment plan within the CRA boundary.

Manatee Board of County Commission in October, 2009 authorized a study of these areas to determine whether they were suitable to become part of Manatee’s Community Redevelopment Areas. The November public meetings are part of the study that began in October. Findings will be presented to the Board in January.

The areas under consideration are as follows:

• The area west of Tamiami Trail from 57th Avenue West to 26th Street West and southward, generally comprising the Bayshore Gardens neighborhood.

• The corridor along Tamiami Trail between 53rd Avenue West and Cortez Road, then eastward along Cortez Road / 44th Ave East. to areas around 9th Street East. The area in and adjoining DeSoto Square Mall, northward to Bradenton city limits and eastward along the First Street corridor.

• A narrow corridor along Tamiami Trail between the Manatee County line and 68th Avenue West.

For more information, call (941) 749-3029. To learn more about Manatee County’s Community Redevelopment Agency, visit this area of Manatee County’s website.