County Commissioners Approve Renovation Plans for Warner's Bayou Boat Ramp

Manatee County Commissioners voted 5-2 today to approve renovations to the Warner's Bayou Boat Ramp that include new bathrooms, that had been the subject of debate from residents living near the boat ramp.

Renovations also include a much needed upgrade to the waterside ramp and will provide other landside improvements. The county will not pave the parking lot as originally planned and there will be no pavilions near the boat ramp.

The scaled back plan means that the project will cost less than the $728,000 originally set aside for the project. Commissioners Carol Whitmore and Joe McClash both voted against the project.

The vote comes months after the project was set to begin. Residents found out about the original renovation plans in the spring. They protested the changes and the timing of the closure.

Since then commissioners and county staff held several workshops to gather input from residents. The boat ramp repairs could begin in early January if all permitting requirements are in place. Once the work begins, the ramp will be closed to boat traffic for a maximum of 120 days.

The final plan is online and includes:

• The parking lot will remain in its current condition but will include the addition of grassed storm water runoff treatment areas around the perimeter of the existing parking lots. Also, two ADA accessible, paved vehicular parking spaces will be created: one on the north side of the park and one located adjacent to kayak launches.

• A new restroom building on the north side of the ramp. The restrooms will have time-controlled doors, restricting after hours access.

• A new fish cleaning station to replace the old station in its current location, not attached to the restroom.