A Cortez coalition is urging Manatee County officials to rethink plans for public boat ramps at the former Seafood Shack property.
The Concerned Citizens of Cortez Coalition announced Dec. 9 that it supports redevelopment of the 8.8-acre waterfront parcel but opposes public boat ramps at the site.
The county-owned mainland parcel, 4110 127th St. W., Cortez, sits along the Intracoastal Waterway north of the Cortez Bridge, bordered by residential neighborhoods to the north and east, including Mariners Cove, Cove Sound Yacht Club and Harbour Landings.
Manatee County purchased the property for $13 million in late 2024 with the idea of building boat ramps to meet countywide demand for water access. Commissioners also highlighted opportunities for fuel service, boat slips and restaurant space.
The coalition release said survey results conducted by its board members in the residential neighborhoods showed overwhelming opposition to ramps.
Of 327 homeowners in the north Cortez neighborhoods, 93% participated in the survey, with 96% opposing boat ramps and 99% supporting the coalition’s involvement.
Residents cited traffic congestion, public safety and neighborhood compatibility as their top concerns.
The group said residents want improvements such as waterfront dining, a bait-and-tackle shop, a marina with fuel service and passive recreation areas — amenities they said would support local businesses without heavily impacting neighborhoods.
“We want to be clear: our goal is not to stop progress, but to guide it with input from the people who live here and are invested in the long-term livability and economic growth of our area,” the release stated. “Cortez deserves waterfront improvements that make our area more beautiful, more accessible, and more enjoyable, not development that introduces major burdens without meaningful wide-spread community benefit.”
County commissioners were expected to review a county-initiated survey on the Cortez Marina project during a meeting at the administration building in Bradenton Dec. 16, after press time for The Islander.
More information is available at cortezcoalition.com or by email at info@cortezcoalition.com.