Manatee County set to purchase Seafood Shack property for new public boat ramp in Cortez

Manatee County residents could soon have a new public boat ramp to launch into Sarasota Bay from right next to the Cortez Bridge.

Manatee County commissioners agreed to purchase the of the Seafood Shack and Marina property located 4110 127th Street West and other parcels associated with it.

Officials say the purchase does not mean any of the businesses operating on the property will have to close. The county intends to build a two to three lane public boat ramp, between 58 and 65 trailer parking spots, between 93 and 134 car parking spots, and between 85 and 100 wet slips.

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The county attained an appraisal from Colliers valuing the property at $12.5 million in May, and negotiated a verbal agreement in June to purchase the property for $13 million. This week's vote authorizes county staff to move forward with the contract for the purchase. The county expects to close on the purchase in October.

The county had earmarked $20.8 million for boat ramp improvements during the budgeting process. The county operates nine saltwater access boat ramps that combined offer 17 launch lanes and 234 trailer parking spaces, but officials estimate a need for a total of 59 launch lanes to properly meet demand.

Business owner James Morganroth supports the purchase and proposed improvements, but made public comment during the meeting to raised concern about the fate of the businesses.

"I'm not opposed to the county owning this property," Morganroth said. "Boat ramps sound good and hearing that wet slips are included as part of the marina, that's good to hear. "

"But I just do want the board and anybody involved to consider any of the current businesses that are operating out of the marina there, and any of the current employees that are working whether at Seafood Shack, Annie's," he said. "We have H2O Water Sports there, Cortez Water Sports, any of the other boat businesses. I just want that to be in consideration if this property is approved for purchase."

Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said the county does not intend to put anybody out of business, and envisions a scenario where the county could continue to lease space to the restaurant and other businesses who are already tenants on the property. He said the revenue could be used to further address the need for boat ramps county wide.

"I assume the board will just act as a landlord and essentially create a revenue source by leasing slips and continue to lease space to those businesses that are already there," Van Ostenbridge said. "We're not looking to put anybody out of work, so it creates a revenue source to maintain this and other boat ramps as well.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Manatee County set to purchase Seafood Shack property for new public boat ramp in Cortez