Bradenton residents stand against 59th Street West expansion

Bradenton

Several 59th Street West residents demanded answers after receiving letters suggesting the Manatee County Government would buy their homes to make room for the expansion of the roadway.

In recent months, dozens of homeowners have received confusing correspondence from eminent domain lawyers offering their services. The letters used preliminary design drawings to claim certain properties could fall victim to the planned four-laning of 59th Street West.

During Tuesday’s public meeting, commissioners suggested the letters were part of an attempt to sway residents into hiring lawyers to represent them in future legal battles.

But that information also came from the county government’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) website. As of Wednesday afternoon, the latest plan shows six properties labeled “full acquisition needed.” At least 22 other private properties are tagged for partial acquisition.

The Board of County Commissioners previously approved the CIP with $31 million to expand 2.3 miles of 59th Street West into a four-lane road from Manatee Avenue to Cortez Road. Design plans have not been finalized, and board members claimed the lawyers used early drawings as scare tactics.

“Anything anyone does is public record, and someone makes a records request, which is what eminent domain attorneys do, and they take the absolute worst-case scenario on the road and they mail them,” said Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge. “It’s simply not true. It’s just one of many drafts that were drawn up.”

Early plans confuse West Bradenton residents

Some of those early drawings included plans to install a roundabout or a stormwater retention pond on property occupied by existing homes. Those ideas have since been discarded to minimize the impact on nearby homeowners, Van Ostenbridge said.

While seeking answers from the county, residents created a Facebook group dedicated to protecting homes in the area. Wearing red shirts that said #Save59thStreetW, at least 10 of them attended Tuesday’s meeting to question board members about the roadway project.

“From a personal standpoint, can you imagine your shock if you suddenly learn that your home or part of your property would suddenly be taken and you could not stop it? In early October, I learned from a lawyer soliciting his services that part of my property would be taken to make room for a road widening project,” said Kerri Wilson, a 59th Street West resident.

In emails obtained by the Bradenton Herald, residents have asked county leaders to explain why they did not receive a heads-up before learning their house might be forcefully acquired through an eminent domain process.

“I haven’t been contacted by anybody here except lawyers wanting to represent me against this,” said Randy Johnson, another resident who lives near 59th Street West.

Homeowners oppose the 59th Street West expansion

Other West Bradenton residents said they were adamantly opposed to any expansion of the roadway, arguing that a larger roadway would negatively impact property values ​​and traffic is not a concern today. More than 240 people have signed a Change.org petition against the expansion of the roadway.

“We strongly disagree with the widening of the road,” said 59th Street West resident James Shepherd. “The traffic there is not a real issue.”

“Those who understand the 59th Street corridor feel strongly that this road will not be directly or heavily impacted by the area south of Cortez that is being developed. 59th Street is simply not a connector for it,” added Laurie Kieffer, an organizer of the Concerned Citizens of 59th Street West group.

While board members disagreed with the suggestion that the roadway expansion was unnecessary, commissioners said they should aim to do a better job of informing residents about right-of-way acquisition plans.

“What I would like to challenge us to do is a better job for the Commissioner at notifying the citizens on something that’s upcoming,” Mike Rahn said.

Commissioner George Kruse explained county officials are trying to get ahead on key infrastructure before the traffic becomes a problem. Similar roadway expansion projects are planned for 75th Street West, Moccasin Wallow Road and 63rd Avenue East.

“Multiple people came up here and used the phrase ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ I could talk to a lot of people on Lorraine (Road) right now or Upper Manatee River or Erie, who a few years ago, it wasn’t broke, but now it is,” Kruse said, describing the roads that are in need of improvements after more homes were built in those areas.

“Everyone talks to us about getting ahead of infrastructure, getting ahead before it becomes a problem, and you have a board who just bonded over $200 million to work on infrastructure and get ahead on infrastructure so that current residents can have quality of life and lessened traffic,” he continued.

County Attorney Bill Clague also weighed in on the confusion, noting that eminent domain lawyers can be “aggressive” in how they attempt to bring in new clients.

“Unfortunately, there are people in my profession that are aggressively trying to line up work ahead of road projects. This is not my first experience with this, I can assure you. But until they actually see from us, here’s the right-of-way we need, it’s just speculation, but I can understand why it can be upsetting to people because it looks like it’s going to affect their property.”

What happens next?

County staff will present an updated road alignment for 59th Street West during a public meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 6. County officials also plan to host a town hall meeting at GT Bray Park in January. A date for that community meeting has not yet been determined.

A final plan to expand 59th Street West still needs to be approved by the Board of County Commissioners at a later date.

Visit www.MyManatee.org/CIP to learn more about the 59th Street West expansion and other upcoming construction projects.