MANATEE COUNTY — A proposal by global terminal operator SSA Marine to build a private cruise port near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Manatee County has sparked intense public opposition, particularly from environmental groups and residents concerned about its proximity to the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve.
While no formal development application has been submitted, the announcement alone has prompted citizen organizing, political pushback, and increased public scrutiny of the proposed development, as concerns grow locally about state-level encroachment on home rule.
Last week, on the same day that SSA Marine announced its plans in a guest op-ed published in the Bradenton Herald, a consultant representing Slip Knott, LLC submitted pre-application paperwork to Manatee County’s Development Services Department…