BRADENTON — At Tuesday’s meeting, Manatee County Commissioners voted unanimously to decline a proposed multi-use ice rink facility at the Premier Sports Complex in Lakewood Ranch and end negotiations with the applicant.
The controversial $80 million project, known as Project Grace, would have included the development of a 190,000-square-foot facility, supported by county economic incentives and a public-private land lease agreement.
In February, commissioners unanimously approved entering into an economic-stimulus public-private development agreement with Icemann Development LLC—the Wesley Chapel-based entity behind Project Grace. The item, which was placed on the consent agenda, was pulled by McCann, who requested more information before casting a vote in its favor…