HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners weren’t in agreement on the issue but the Ugly Grouper’s owners will be allowed to increase the restaurant’s seating size.
During an April 26 meeting, attorney Scott Rudacille appeared before commissioners to plead his client’s case for increasing the seating capacity of the Ugly Grouper based on the number of available parking spaces. Commissioners Kim Rash and Jayne Christenson voted against the increase but it passed anyway with a simple majority.
In 2017, the restaurant’s amended site plan was approved by the city commission to include 173 total seats before 5 p.m. and a maximum of 239 seats after 5 p.m. with a limit of 176 outdoor seats. Under the newly amended site plan, the restaurant will be able to have 240 seats at any given time throughout its business hours, with a maximum of 176 outdoor seats. Rudacille said his client is seeking to expand indoor dining options, taking advantage of an adjacent building formerly used for retail and office space. In addition to acquiring the building for the restaurant, he said it also frees up associated parking spaces which were previously only available to the Ugly Grouper’s patrons in the evening.
City Planner Bill Brisson said that between all of the restaurant’s parking areas there are more than enough parking spaces to allow for the expansion of indoor seating. He addressed the issue of a pizzeria being installed at the adjacent former AMI Carwash site and said there are enough parking spaces on the site to allow for both restaurants to use the lot.
In addition to approving the seating expansion, commissioners also approved the replacement and addition of some speakers on the property, with the caveat that they each have independent volume control. They also specified that bollards need to be installed in front of the outdoor seating area to better protect patrons from drivers, a suggestion made by the city’s building official.
While some residents stepped up to speak in favor of the restaurant’s growth, noting its appeal to visitors and family-friendly atmosphere, other residents asked commissioners to reconsider approving the amended site plan.
Margie Motzer, who lives near the Ugly Grouper, said she’s concerned about the restaurant being so big, covering five parcels and continuing to grow. She said in addition to being concerned about an increase in noise in the adjacent residential neighborhood, she’s also worried about the expansion causing more traffic and creating an unsafe situation for people traveling along Marina Drive. Resident Nancy Deal added that she’s also concerned about the potential increase in traffic around the restaurant, with the mix of transportation types using Marina Drive.
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