Manatee County Approves Fort Hamer Commons Development Despite Resident Concerns

In a 4-2 vote, the Manatee County Commissioners approved a revised general development plan for Fort Hamer Commons, a 55-acre mixed-use development at the intersection of Mulholland and Fort Hamer Roads in Parrish. This decision came despite a recommendation to deny the request by the Planning Commission and vocal opposition from hundreds of local residents.

The approved plan significantly increases the development’s density, allowing for 496 residential units and up to 300,000 square feet of commercial space, compared to an original 2015 plan permitting only 156 units and 30,000 square feet. The project, led by developer Carlos Beruff’s North River Land LLC, proposes a mix of residential units and commercial structures up to four stories high, affecting areas near established neighborhoods, including Chelsea Oaks and River Plantation, and less than a mile from Annie Lucy Williams Elementary School.

Residents and Planning Commission members raised concerns over the development’s impact on local traffic, especially given the absence of a current traffic study, and questioned the adequacy of nearby infrastructure. Although a stipulation was added to require a future traffic study, residents continued to voice apprehension over congestion, safety risks for children, and potential flooding.

Planning Commissioners expressed concerns about the scale of the request, with some questioning the designation of Mulholland Road as a thoroughfare, a factor allowing higher density in the area. Commissioner George Kruse argued that the intersection’s designation as an “activity node” relied on outdated planning data, while Commissioner Jason Bearden cited the development’s timing as problematic given pending road expansions.

Despite the voiced concerns, Commissioners Amanda Ballard, Ray Turner, Mike Rahn, and Kevin Van Ostenbridge voted in favor, while Commissioners Bearden and Kruse opposed. The project’s next stages are set to include further site plan evaluations and infrastructure considerations, with construction anticipated in the coming years.