Manatee County wins comp plan challenge from Long Bar developer
The 2nd District Court of Appeal let stand a lower court judgment for Manatee County against Long Bar Pointe developers.
County Attorney Mitchell Palmer announced the appellate victory Feb. 24 to the seven-member board of commissioners in an email.
In the 2nd DCA appeal, Cargor Partners VIII and Long Bar Pointe LLLP challenged 12th Circuit Judge John Lakin’s January 2016 decision that upheld coastal policies in Manatee County’s comprehensive plan. The developers are Carlos Beruff and Larry Lieberman.
The developers’ suit was aimed at eliminating coastal regulations for their large-scale subdivision, Aqua by the Bay, about 5 miles southeast of Cortez on Sarasota Bay. Located off El Conquistador Parkway in Bradenton, nearly one-third of the property is submerged lands, including state-protected mangroves and seagrass.
It is still in the county development pipeline.The comp plan policies protect wetlands and submerged lands and restrict dredging of channels, canals and basins and prohibit construction of new boat ramps.