ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria has begun the process of enacting additional restrictions for construction activities on extended holiday weekends.
On Thursday, May 27, City Attorney Becky Vose presented city commissioners with the first reading of proposed Ordinance 21-888. The proposed ordinance will be reviewed by the city’s Planning and Zoning board before returning to the commission for a second and final reading at a later date.
According to the newly-proposed ordinance language, “If any of these holidays falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday shall also be observed as a holiday during which no noise is allowed. If any of these holidays falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall also be observed as a holiday.”
If later approved on second and final reading, the newly-proposed ordinance language would be added to the existing language that addresses construction noise, the operation of construction equipment and the delivery, collection and removal of construction dumpsters. According to the existing ordinance, construction activities are currently allowed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Both the existing and proposed ordinances note: “No noise allowed on Sundays and federal holidays as designated by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.”
According to the proposed ordinance, “The city finds that it is in the best interest of the city and its residents and visitors to balance the rights of persons conducting construction activities on private property with the rights of residents and visitors to be free of the negative impacts of construction activities.”
A builder’s perspective
During general public comment at the beginning of Thursday’s meeting, local builder Frank Agnelli revisited concerns he recently expressed at a previous meeting. Agnelli’s comments were in reference to the city’s previously stated intent to conduct public workshops or meetings to receive input from the construction community before adopting and amending construction-related ordinances.
“Nobody’s getting any input from the builders. We were under the impression that we would be involved and we’re not. Now here we are again: I see something on the agenda for first reading for construction hours,” Agnelli told the commission.
“Is this ever going to happen?” Agnelli said. “It’s not happened yet. I’m looking for you guys to at least force the building department to work with us. Nobody’s working with us.”
Agnelli requested members of the local construction community be informed before the first readings of construction ordinances. Because he had a dinner date with his daughter, Agnelli left Thursday’s meeting before the construction hours ordinance was discussed.
Any member of the public is welcome to attend city commission meetings and provide comment on any issue they wish to speak on. Meeting agendas are posted days in advance in the government section of the city website. Detailed meeting packets are posted online on the day of the meeting, if not sooner.
Commission discussion
During the ordinance discussion, Commissioner Jon Crane said, “Mr. Agnelli has a point, and he ought to stick around for these important discussions.”
Commissioner Joe Muscatello asked if city staff made any effort to meet with construction company representatives to discuss the proposed changes to the allowed construction hours.
Murphy said that was “in the queue” but no such meeting had yet been scheduled by the building official.
Commission Chair Carol Carter said, “With three-day weekends, we have many more visitors, many more people on the Island. If we eliminate construction, including construction noise, we’re eliminating a lot of heavy construction vehicles.”
During public comment specific to the proposed ordinance, Anna Maria resident Michelle Santagata said she supports the additional restrictions for long holiday weekends.
“But enforcement is a major issue,” she noted.
Santagata said two large houses are being built behind her home on Jacaranda Road and she’s had issues with generators running all day long. Santagata said when she contacted the city, she was told city code allows generator use during allowed construction hours.
In response to Santagata’s enforcement comment, Commission Chair Carol Carter said, “Enforcement is always an issue once we get a new ordinance in place.”
