Three things to know in Manatee: Rubonia disaster recovery, Bradenton Tennis Center rezone
Recovery efforts in the Rubonia community continue nearly a month after storm surge from Hurrican Idalia flooded many homes during the storm.
Manatee County officials discussed response to the community during a land-use meeting on Thursday morning. The county commissioners also denied a controversial proposal to rezone the Bradenton Tennis Center, and rezoned various parcels of land for conservation.
Disaster recovery continues in Rubonia post-Idalia
Manatee County staff presented various updates stemming from the emergency response to Hurricane Idalia, which exposed concerns about storm surge in local low-lying communities like Rubonia.
Rubonia received some of the county's most significant impact during Hurricane Idalia, with high storm surge flooding many homes in the community.
Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske said the county participated in a community meeting at the Rubonia Community Center with Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives to answer questions about the recovery process and available disaster assistance programs. The county and FEMA also approached individual property owners door-to-door to help residents apply for individual assistance.
FEMA has also established a mobile disaster recovery center at the Rubonia Community Center, and it will remain there for the next two weeks.
Bradenton Tennis Center property rezone denied
Commissioners denied a controversial request to change the zoning of the 6.7-acre Bradenton Tennis Center property. The proposal was made by property owner Bayside Holdings LLC, which seeks the zoning change with intent of selling the site for redevelopment.
The proposal is vehemently opposed by many residents who live in the surrounding community, including many who said the new zoning would allow dense development of 16 units per acre that is incompatible with the area.
Properties to be zoned for conservation
County commissioners rezoned multiple public or nonprofit-owned properties totaling more than 23,000 acres for conservation. The sites had various zoning districts assigned to them, ranging from agricultural, residential or mining use zoning. It includes property at Terra Ceia Preserve State Park and Creekside RV Park.
The board also approved a zoning change for about 4,926 acres from conservation zoning to Recreation and Open Space use.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: What to know in Manatee: Rubonia recovers, Tennis Center rezone denied
