EAST MANATEE COUNTY, Fla.-An East Manatee County community is concerned about a car dealership moving into their neighborhood, so they're doing something about it.
They started a petition and letter writing campaign to show county commissioners the community's opposition to a proposed Cox Dealership.
One step at a time--going door to door--is how Brady Chapman and Jim Hengel hope to keep a potential neighbor from moving in next door to their community.
GreyHawk Landing has 1,500 homes plus 5,000 more in the surround area.
“That type of development is not compatible with the existing footprint of the area, not beneficial to our community. We’ll oppose it every step of the way," Chapman said.
Cox Chevrolet petitioned the county to rezone this 17 acre property off State Road 64 and 117 Street from residential to commercial. Cox has a car dealership 13 miles west in Bradenton.
“Putting pavement and a parking lot will create excess flooding in the area change the existing waterways affecting neighborhoods in area put us in a flood zone require us to purchase flood insurance. We have traffic concerns,” explained Chapman. We’ll have pollution real life pollution, lighting pollution, noise pollution and effect the esthetics of the area.”
The group said they hope to collect 5,000 signatures either in person or online.
Some residents said they were worried that if one dealership moves in others will follow.
“It sets the precedence to allow other dealerships be built on the road without opposition,” Hengel said.
The county has two weeks to review the car dealer’s rezoning request. A public hearing will be next. .
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