Developers, county beef up for Aqua By The Bay hearings

Manatee County commissioners could forever alter the “longest mangrove shoreline” on Sarasota Bay with their decisions on the future development of Aqua By The Bay.

The county has noticed a public hearing before the planning commission for the proposed 523-acre mixed-use development at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 10.

Aqua also is set to be heard at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, by the final decision-makers, the Manatee Board of County Commissioners.

Long Bar Pointe LLLP and Cargor Partners VIII, companies controlled by Carlos Beruff and Larry Lieberman, propose construction of 2,894 residential units and 78,000 square feet of commercial space — including 120 acres of submerged land in Sarasota Bay — southeast of Cortez and north of IMG.