Proposed Parrish Neighborhood Action Plan recommends main street business district and central park
By CARL MARIO NUDI
With all the development in northeast Manatee County, a proposed plan for the Parrish Village community includes a business district similar to Main Street in Lakewood Ranch, which should be a welcomed amenity for the residents.
Manatee County Commissioner Priscilla Whisenant Trace, left, whose district includes the Village of Parrish, listens to the proposed Parrish Village Neighborhood Action Plan presentation with fellow commissioners, Reggie Bellamy and Carol Whitmore.
The Manatee County Commission was given an update on the Parrish Village Neighborhood Action Plan on Oct. 8 that envisions a main street connecting U.S. Highway 301 to a county park near the new Parrish Community High School, along with several other improvements to the historic community.
“The purpose for the Neighborhood Action Plan was to identify what the community wanted and its priorities,” Althea Jefferson, senior associate of The Mellgren Planning Group, told the commissioners.
The plan was developed with input from several community leaders and from a workshop with the residents that Jefferson conducted at a Parrish Civic Association gathering in January.
Jefferson’s Fort Lauderdale-based urban planning and consulting firm was contracted in August 1918 to write the 137-page plan. The Mellgren Planning Group was contracted for about $28,000 through the Manatee County Neighborhood Services Department with department coordinator Debbie DeLeon connecting Jefferson with the residents. This action plan is a document that gives the residents a guide to achieve their visions for their village.
“The Parrish residents have a long history of being involved in their community,” she said. “There is definitely a love of their community and a sharing of their core values.”
During her presentation to the commission, Jefferson outlined the highlights of the Neighborhood Action Plan, or NAP.
CARL MARIO NUDI PHOTOS
Senior Associate Althea Jefferson of The Mellgren Planning Group presented the proposed Parrish Village Neighborhood Action Plan to the Manatee County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 8.
The plan covers an area of about 2,100 acres, roughly bounded by Erie Road on the north, U.S. 301 on the west, Martha Road on the east and Lexington Drive and U.S. 301 on the south.
This area, referred to by residents as “the village,” includes most of the older residential homes, the main retail strip along U.S. 301, the new schools, two approved developments, Parrish Plantation and Morgan’s Glen, and a county park.
The NAP identified the needs and priorities of the community, conducted a development suitability analysis, assessed market and trade conditions, developed a conceptual plan and established strategies for implementation of the plan.
Jefferson pointed out to the commission that the Parrish Civic Association, or PCA, has a rural development committee that put together many of the ideas incorporated in the NAP, including the main street concept.
Over the past decade or more, the county commission has approved several large developments surrounding the village, including the North River Ranch of about 5,800 homes and about 1,000 homes in Cone Ranch. More than 30,000 homes have been built or are planned within a 5-mile radius of the Village of Parrish.
Jefferson pointed out the commission’s commitment for sewer and water service for the village, the construction of the Fort Hamer Road Extension, the land set aside for the county park, for sidewalks and for road improvements.
The plan presented several potential business districts. Jefferson labeled them as the North Anchor and South Anchor. The South Anchor would be between 121st Street West and U.S. Highway 301 on the southern end of the village, which now includes the post office and fire station.
Senior Associate Althea Jefferson of The Mellgren Planning Group, right, and Debbie DeLeon, coordinator with the Manatee County Neighborhood Services Department, worked together to complete the proposed Parrish Village Neighborhood Action Plan.
The North Anchor, however, has created much more excitement with many of the residents.This includes the main street proposal, which could stretch along some vacant land south of 77th Street East from U.S. Highway 301 to the county park being developed along the Fort Hamer Road Extension near the Parrish Community High School.
During Jefferson’s interviews and workshop, the residents indicated they would like to see a business district similar to downtown Dunedin, Mount Dora and other small town main streets.
To accomplish the goals of the NAP, Jefferson’s recommendations include transportation infrastructure improvements, a pedestrian circulation plan, incentives for the development of business and entertainment uses, active and passive recreational opportunities and identifying funding for the county park, which the residents have already started calling Central Park.
The plan envisions the main street to include shopping, dining, entertainment establishments, lighting, trees and landscaping, benches and round-abouts.Diverse housing development just west of the proposed main street also is in the plan.
After the presentation, District 1 Commissioner Priscilla Trace, whose district includes Parrish, said the residents have a vision and want the main street and park. “I want to make sure the county makes a commitment to Parrish,” Trace said. “This will have to be a private/public partnership.”
PROVIDED PHOTO
A main street business district could stretch along some vacant land south of 77th Street East from U.S. Highway 301 to the county park that is being developed along the Fort Hamer Road Extension near the Parrish Community High School. This was included in the proposed Parrish Village Neighborhood Action Plan.
The commissioner emphasized the need to designate a staff person from the county planning department to help coordinate this plan. “This is taking an area and having a big footprint on it and saying, ‘Yes, we’re changing it,’” Trace said. “It needs someone in the county to give direction,” she said. “That’s what the residents of Parrish want.”
Gretchen Fowler, president of the PAC, told the commission that the residents of Parrish want to partner with the county to make the plan happen. “We will help facilitate the private/public partnership,” Fowler said.
Parrish business owner Allen Jones, who is the chair of the PAC Rural Development Committee, also addressed the commission. “What you saw today was a proactive approach that we’ve been working with in the Village of Parrish,” said Jones, who owns Jones Potatoes on Dickey Road. “We have an opportunity to do something really cool here for Manatee County.”
He suggested to the commissioners to get the proposed main street on the county thoroughfare road map. “We’re here to be a spokesperson, a stakeholder and a partner to get it all done,” Jones said.
In the lobby of the Manatee County Administration Building after her presentation to the commissioners, Jefferson said that she will go back to the Parrish community with the plan.
PROVIDED PHOTO
The proposed Parrish Village Neighborhood Action Plan includes a possible business district between 121st Street West and U.S. Highway 301 on the southern end of the village, which now includes the post office and fire station.
But County Neighborhood Services Department Coordinator DeLeon said the process would start with an online survey, which will be available in about a month. After the community members voice their opinions of the action plan, it will be brought to the county commissioners for approval.
The Parrish Village Neighborhood Action Plan can be found online at www.mymanatee.org/published/October%208,%202019%20-%20Regular%20Meeting%20on%20Tuesday,%20October%2008,%202019/C6F2949A-1967-451C-B46F-79310E11B084.pdf.
Jefferson’s presentation to the commissioners can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew7wGLaKkEE&feature=youtu.be starting at approximately 1:33:50.
The survey will be posted at www.speakupmanatee.com.
