ANNA MARIA – The city’s new beach cabana rental regulations have been adopted and will take effect on Sunday, March 15.
The much-discussed cabana and tent rental regulations are included in the city’s new parks and recreation ordinance that city commissioners unanimously adopted on final reading on Thursday, Feb. 26.
Beach cabana rentals and all other commercial activities are currently prohibited in the city’s coastal conservation zones and recreation open space zones that encompass the public beaches and parks in Anna Maria
The new ordinance addresses commercial beach and park activities as a whole and specifically regulates commercial cabanas and tents located in a specific area that carries the city’s recreation open space zoning designation.
Commercial cabana and tent rentals will only be allowed in the recreation open space-zoned area known as Gulf Front Park, which extends from Oak Avenue to Magnolia Avenue.
The new ordinance does not allow cabana and tent rentals in the coastal conservation-zoned areas that include the beach area in front of the Sandbar restaurant and extending toward Bean Point.
Existing city code still maintains the long-standing regulation that states nothing more than a single-pole structure, such as an umbrella, can be erected in a coastal conservation zone – and that includes privately-owned, non-rented cabanas and tents.
Adopted city ordinance 26-592 says, “Temporary shade structure means a portable free standing shelter providing sun protection such as a tent, umbrella, cabana, canopy, or the like. Temporary shade structures shall not exceed 169 square feet of ground coverage in total, and 13 linear feet in any direction, inclusive of any poles, pegs, tie-downs, anchors, weights, sandbags, or the like.”
The adopted city ordinance says, “Commercial rental areas must be pre-ordered. No more than two commercial rental areas may be placed within 50 linear feet of each other, measured in any direction. Adjacent commercial rental areas shall not exceed 28 linear feet in any direction.”
Mayor Mark Short noted the ordinance does not regulate how many people can be located under a temporary shade structure or structures.
The ordinance says signage may not exceed a total of four square feet and must include the owner’s name and contact information. Stand-alone signage is not permitted.
The ordinance states the delivery and set up of temporary shade structures may not occur until 7 a.m. and the temporary structures must be removed from the beach by dusk – with an exception provided during stormy weather.
The ordinance requires any individual or entity providing a commercial beach rental area to have on file with the city valid proof of a $1 million insurance policy.
The fine for a first violation of the ordinance that takes effect March 15 is $100. The fine for a second violation is $200. The fine for third and subsequent violations is $500. The fine for leaving abandoned equipment on the beach is $50.
The commission asked City Attorney Becky Vose to insert additional enforcement language that provides the city with the ability to revoke beach rental rights for egregious repeat offenders for up to one year.
PUBLIC INPUT
When addressing the mayor and commission during public input, Elm Avenue beachfront homeowner Allea Newbold spoke in support of cabanas and tents being rented to residents and vacation rental guests.
When addressing the mayor and commission, My Beach Concierge owner Peery Heldreth sought and received clarification on some of the specific operational details contained in the ordinance.
Heldreth expressed his ongoing concerns about not being allowed to erect cabanas and tents along the popular beach area in front of the Sandbar restaurant.
Mayor Short told Heldreth the existing cabana and tent prohibitions will be enforced in that area and the coastal conservation zone regulations are something he and the commission will address as a separate matter in the future.
Heldreth thanked the mayor and commission for working with the cabana rental companies in developing the new regulations. Commissioner Charlie Salem thanked Heldreth for his insights during the discussion and ordinance adoption process that began several months ago.
When speaking to The Sun after the meeting, Heldreth said he had many existing cabana rental reservations scheduled for the Sandbar beach area during the season ahead. He said he must now cancel those reservations or relocate them to a different portion of the beach where cabana rentals are allowed. Heldreth said he hopes the city’s position on cabana rentals in at least some of the coastal conservation zones is revisited in the future.
