BRADENTON BEACH – After nearly three months of uncertainty, 83 of the 86 Pines Trailer Park owners received a notice from the city that they may repair their hurricane-damaged mobile homes with the proper permits.
Some residents remain hesitant to move forward with repairs, however, saying questions about the Pines ownerships’ intent for the park are still unanswered.
Pines residents received a letter from Bradenton Beach Building Official Darin Cushing on Dec. 9, which stated in part: “We previously provided you with a notice that your property may have been affected by flooding due to hurricanes Helene and Milton, and that a second, more thorough inspection would be performed to gather data critical to making a formal determination as to whether the cost of repairs necessary to restore your building to its pre-damage condition might rise to an amount constituting ‘substantial damage’ as defined in the City’s Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance 21-538.”
Following the results of that second inspection, and with a review of the data, as well as a review of the property values, repairs may be made with the applicable permits, according to the letter. Permits include, but are not limited to, structural repairs to the foundation or building envelope, including roof repairs, electrical repairs, plumbing repairs and mechanical repairs.
“At this time, the data suggests that costs to perform repairs and restoration will not constitute a substantial damage repair,” Cushing’s letter stated.
Cushing, former city building official Steve Gilbert and a team of 20 inspectors provided by the state conducted the inspections.
To track and document costs, a Floodplain Development Permit application, including building permits as needed, must be submitted to the city building department, Cushing’s letter stated.
The Pines mobile homes had varying levels of water intrusion during the storm surge from Hurricane Helene in September.
At an Oct. 17 city commission meeting, Pines residents had been told that FEMA guidelines related to any water covering the floors caused by a hurricane deemed their structures as having major damage. Based on those guidelines, and prior to interior inspections, they were deemed substantially damaged and subject to a city floodplain ordinance requiring elevation of the mobile homes.
”After the city’s initial reaction to what FEMA representatives said, the city has been fair, especially Darin Cushing,” Pines mobile homeowner Elayne Armaniaco said on Dec. 13. “Darin has been an advocate for fairness in the FEMA process.”
On Dec. 13, a representative for Pines ownership, Pines Park Investors LLC, had no comment on the matter.
Pines homeowner Ryan Pfahler said on Dec. 5 that he and others were hesitant to move forward with repairs until they receive guarantees from the park ownership about the continued existence of the park, along with having other issues addressed.
One of those issues included parking.
Owned by Shawn Kaleta, one of the owners of the Pines Trailer Park, the parking lot at 201 First St. N., used by close to half of the Pines residents, was recently converted to a public paid parking lot. Those Pines residents’ annual paid parking passes, at a cost of $750 a year, will expire on Dec. 31.
“Many of the residents currently have no parking available,” Pfahler wrote in a Dec. 13 text message to The Sun. “It appears that the LLC park owners have converted the only parking lot into a public pay-by-the-hour parking lot, further inconveniencing residents and creating logistical challenges.”
Pfahler said on Dec. 13 that he is awaiting clarification about the parking issue and said other issues at the park also need to be addressed.
“There is no park manager in place, nor has any plan been communicated regarding who residents should address for concerns or emergencies,” he wrote and he is asking park ownership for the following:
• “Provide immediate clarification on who is managing the park and how residents can raise concerns or issues;
• Clearly communicate the landowner’s long-term plans for the park;
• Provide written guarantees or commitments regarding lot rent stability and park longevity;
• Address plans for repairing and maintaining shared facilities and services;
• Restore resident parking or provide an alternative parking solution; and
• Commit to consistent, transparent communication regarding park developments and resident concerns.”
