§ 4.1.3. Synergy Development Model—A Vision for Growth

Port Manatee is strategically positioned for growth. The potential for Port growth is directly correlated with the population expansion anticipated for Southwest Florida, its proximity to South Florida, and the potential new markets associated with Cuba and the Panama Canal expansion. Port Manatee is the closest U.S. cargo seaport to the Panama Canal, Central America, and South America's West Coast. Florida is the nation's third-most populous state and the area in the state with the highest population and development density is concentrated between Orlando (the I-4 corridor) and Miami. Population projections indicate Southwest Florida, in which Port Manatee is located, is where substantial growth will occur. ^[]

In preparation for the future, a development model can be created so as to utilize Port assets in such a way as to competitively achieve the benefits of growth for the Port, its tenants, and the surrounding community. Stakeholders include both water-side and land-side constituents.

From the water-side, to be competitive, a port must serve its customers with superior efficiency, handling their products safely and quickly, with a smooth administrative process. Shipping lines and business customers gravitate to ports that offer these important features.

On the land-side, businesses, corporations, land owners, and developers seek features similar to those on the water-side. They look for land that will provide space for their development and/or future business ventures within a "shovel ready" context that includes readiness, minimal development restrictions, and a competitive price. A "Synergy Development Model" could be designed within the context of this Plan to facilitate a "shovel ready" framework that will establish Port Manatee as a niche port and the Port for Southwest Florida. The Port's well-known attributes, namely, available land, superior transportation access, infrastructure support, and speed of delivery, all contribute to this framework.

Land. Port Manatee includes 1,100 acres of which less than one-third is actively used or developed. It is adjacent to 5,000 acres on mostly undeveloped land.

Transportation. Port Manatee is well connected with the state and interstate road system. Intestate I-75 and I-275 are minutes from the Port's main gates. U.S. 41, a commercial north-south thoroughfare, is directly adjacent to the Port's gate. Direct access to a Class 1 railway via CSXT is also afforded the Port. Port Manatee is a component of Florida's Strategic Intermodal System (SIS), linking all forms of transportation, land, water, and air into a single integrated transportation network. It also serves as a basis for determining state priorities for transportation funding.

The newly established statewide Freight Logistics Zones legislation (F.S. 311.103) authorizes one or more counties to identify freight zones that will be given funding priority based on their plans to heighten freight transportation activities. It allows a county, or two or more contiguous counties, to designate a freight logistics zone, which could include areas outlined in Chapter 5 for discussion. Any designated zone must include a strategic plan as well. Projects within freight logistics zones, which are consistent with the Florida Department of Transportation's Freight Mobility and Trade Plan, may be eligible for priority in state funding and certain incentive programs. Currently, however, to date, freight logistics zones are neither defined nor designated.

Infrastructure Support. Currently, the Port has 7,240 linear feet of dock space, along 10 berths, with 40-foot drafts. Refrigerated plugs to handle containerized perishables and two mobile harbor cranes are available that are capable of 165-ton tandem lifts. Over one million square feet of public warehouse space is on site, of which 207,000 square feet are refrigerated.

Speed of Delivery. A Synergy Development Model is intended to combine all these attributes into one that will distinguish Port Manatee as a "Go To" Port and that will, in turn, create a symbiotic relationship among Port customers, tenants, adjacent properties, and the community. Each player's assets strengthen and compound the others.

Serving in the traditional role as a regional economic engine, the Port, in conjunction with Manatee County, has initiated numerous incentive programs for the PDEZ and/or the Port Manatee Improvement District. The incentive programs include expedited permit processing, special zoning for port-related uses, exemption from development impact fees, exemption from the Development of Regional Impact (DRI) reviews, and economic development grants.

Further, a Synergy Development Model could incorporate a proposed direct road link to adjacent properties that will connect the Port with the PDEZ. Manatee County has conceptually identified four alignments for a PDEZ Access Road that will facilitate this connection. The establishment of a new vehicular east-west corridor will serve as a sound basis for prospective developers to analyze properties within the PDEZ and hence to the Port Manatee Improvement District with a vision of extending the outreach to the region, the State of Florida, and to southeast U.S. and southern Gulf states. All in all, the attributes, the incentives, and the new vehicular east-west corridor advantage the developer with speed and cost savings.

The start of a Synergy Development Model is depicted in Figure 4.8. Option 1 from the County's proposed conceptual corridor alignments is displayed on this figure. This option was chosen based on current land uses and potential environmental impacts. Scenario B for cruise/ferry and auto import business addresses the initiation of preliminary engineering and design for connections to both North Dock and South Dock Streets.

Figure 4.8
SYNERGY DEVELOPMENT MODEL