Manatee County Commission approves Warner’s Bayou boat ramp work, renovations

On August 21st, Manatee County Commissioners approved a plan for Warner’s Bayou boat ramp that will upgrade the waterside ramp and provide landside improvements. On a vote of 5-2, the Commission approved plan that is a combination of county staff recommendations and input from three public workshops.

The final plan can be found online and includes the following highlights:

• The parking lot will not be paved and remain in its current condition , with the addition of grassed storm water runoff treatment areas added 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;
• No proposed pavilions;
• A new restroom building on the north side of the ramp. The restrooms will have time-controlled doors, restricting afterhours access;
• A new fish cleaning station to replace the old station in its current location, not attached to the restroom.

There are still no plans for vendors at the site.

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 ramp was scheduled to be closed for repair and upgrades in March, but many residents near the popular boat launch asked to have more input.

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501.