– It will now be easier for manufacturers to develop and expand in portions of Manatee County.
On Thursday, Manatee County became the first county in the state to establish a Local Manufacturing Development Program.
The Manatee County Commission approved the ordinance 5-1 with Commissioner Charles Smith dissenting and Commissioner Larry Bustle absent.
“It’s trying to help our businesses react to the market,” said John Barnott, county Building and Development Services Department director.
During almost two hours of discussion on the ordinance, Smith expressed concerns with flooding in the area and read an email from Bradenton Councilman Harold Byrd.
“We have some issues there that have to be addressed,” Smith said. “My constituents are very concerned. … These impoverished communities have always been used as guinea pigs.”
Smith’s district encompasses Tropicana and East Bradenton,
The program, which is in response to the Manufacturing Competitiveness Act the Florida Legislature passed in 2013, will allow manufacturers to obtain master plan approval for manufacturing sites in certain designated areas.
Once approved, the manufacturer would not need additional local approvals for future expansions or modifications except those involving building code, life or safety issues.
Barnott estimates this could save up to a year or even more in the process. After commission approval during a public hearing, the applicant can go straight to building permit approvals, according to agenda materials.
Source: www.bradenton.com
It will now be easier for manufacturers to develop and expand in portions of Manatee County. On Thursday, Manatee County became the first county in the state to establish a Local Manufacturing Development Program. The Manatee County Commission approved the ordinance 5-1 with Commissioner Charles Smith dissenting and Commissioner Larry Bustle absent. Competitiveness Act the Florida Legislature passed in 2013, will allow manufacturers to obtain master plan approval for manufacturing sites in certain designated areas.
Once approved, the manufacturer would not need additional local approvals for future expansions or modifications except those involving building code, life or safety issues. Barnott estimates this could save up to a year or even more in the process. After commission approval during a public hearing, the applicant can go straight to building permit approvals, according to agenda materials.