BRADENTON BEACH – Tasked by city commissioners in May to conduct a code compliance review of the parking lot at 205 First St. N. historically used by Pines Trailer Park residents and the 101 Bridge St./219 Gulf Drive parking lot, city building official Bill Palmer presented his report at the June 27 city commission work meeting.
Palmer enumerated a list of issues that are not in compliance at both public paid parking lots, including improper accessible signage and surfaces.
“We have a professionally drawn site plan for Bridge Street parking lot and I was given a new plan for Pines,” Palmer said. “I did an onsite inspection of the parking lots and compared them to make sure they were in compliance with Florida Statutes, Florida Building Code and our Land Development Code.”
“The first item at the Pines parking lot was the handicapped accessible spaces,” Palmer said. “Florida Statute has regulations on the signage and the striping that shows the 5-foot width next to the vehicle. Also, we need handicapped signs that have a certain verbiage on them. The ones at the parking lot now don’t meet Florida Statute.”
The accessible parking spaces and routes must be on slip-resistant material, he said. The parking lot currently has a loose stone surface throughout.
“The spots for the handicapped parking must be on a stable, firm and slip-resistant surface such as asphalt or concrete. That’s per Florida Statute,” Palmer said. “Neither of the parking lots have that – the Pines or Bridge Street.”
Palmer handed commissioners the following list of compliance review issues that he found at the parking lots:
- Handicap accessible spaces must be properly marked and striped to define the width with signage per the details on approved plans;
- Handicap spaces and accessible routes must be level, stable, firm and slip-resistant with concrete or asphalt coverings;
- Trash receptacles must be located at each entrance and exit points;
- Parking lot surface other than handicapped spaces and accessible routes must be soft shell/crushed shale sand pavement;
- Bollards need to be installed;
- Parking lot general signage needs to be installed;
- Any hazardous debris needs to be removed;
- Install new sidewalks and parking lot entry access;
- Provide a parking lot light plan for approval;
- Provide a drainage and stormwater management plan; all off-street parking lots shall be graded and drained in accordance with applicable stormwater management requirements;
- New landscaping vegetation; and
- Provide landscaping (Bridge Street only).
“I sent this list to applicant (Shawn Kaleta, manager of Pines Park Investors LLC) to review,” Palmer said. “The comment back to me was he doesn’t want to do improvements until he gets a Temporary Use Permit, but that parking lot is being in use now. Tourists are using that lot. On the Bridge Street parking lot the applicant had made comment to me there should be some exceptions because it’s a temporary lot. I don’t agree with that.”
The parking lot, commonly known as the Pines parking lot, was converted to public paid parking in December 2024. The use of that property as a paid parking lot is under review by the commission.
Stephen Thompson, the attorney for Pines Park Investors LLC, the owners of the parking lot at the Pines Trailer Park, said at a May 1 special commission meeting that Pines residents who pay their rent may continue to use the lot for free while the city commission considers the owners’ request to charge for parking at the lot.
“At the last meeting, there was concern that we were taking away the parking from tenants,” Thompson said. “In talking to Mr. Kaleta, we want to roll back and allow the tenants to once again park on that lot. Just like they have done for years. Not that it’s a requirement or a legal obligation for us to do it, but I think that may bring a resolution to this issue.”
It was at that May meeting that commissioners directed the building official to review regulations as they pertain to the parking lot at 205 First St. N.
Commissioner Scott Bear said the lot appears to be fully usable for paid public parking, and suggested signs reserving some spots for Pines residents.
“They’re not fulfilling what they told the board they’re going to do,” Bear said. “I think that needs to be added to this list.”
Palmer said the owners could cordon off an area and post “Pines residents only” signs.
“If they are using even three spaces for paid parking, it needs to comply with your list,” Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce said. “They need to follow all the rules. If that’s mixed use with paid parking and Pines residents I think that’s irrelevant. The relevant part is they’re getting money, they need to comply with what we told them they had to do. I think they’re skirting the issue and just hoping nobody notices.”
Mayor John Chappie said, “If you want to keep part of it as paid parking, you have to follow the rules.”
Pines homeowner Sandy Suever said there are a few Pines homeowners using the parking lot currently.
The parking lot at 101 Bridge St./219 Gulf Drive was approved for a 106-room resort hotel in December 2023.
“To me, temporary is 90-180 days,” Palmer said. “This parking lot is going to be there for a long time. I’m sure there will be no development on that lot for a year or more. If temporary or not, everybody should have the opportunity to use it safely.”
