HOLMES BEACH – After seeing Mayor Carmel Monti’s plans for Manatee Public Beach and a gondola system, city commissioners nixed a parking garage, but had mixed feelings about paid parking and the gondola.
Monti last week presented drawings depicting a three-story parking garage, an events pavilion and changing cabanas at the beach and a gondola to transport people between the beach and the mainland. He said the parking garage could hold 1,000 vehicles and have bicycle, golf cart and Segway rentals and other shops and offices around the perimeter.
“We don’t make any decisions besides building code specifications at this property,” Commissioner David Zaccagnino pointed out. “We have no say so whatever. It’s Manatee County. They have to give the approval, and they’ll do whatever they want.”
“I have been in discussions with most of the county commissioners and department personal, and in general, they like the idea,” Monti replied. “They view this as a way to capture the traffic there and as a revenue generator for the Island.”
Keep recreational use
Chair Judy Titsworth pointed out that the beach is recreational and said, “I agree with David. It’s our zoning, and we shouldn’t give up our recreational use so Manatee County can make money.
“Adding more parking adds more bodies, and the rentals would generate revenue for the county and take away from our businesses.”
She said no one would want to get in a gondola on a stormy summer afternoon.
Monti said county officials have told him that money made on the Island should stay on the Island.
“I am so pleased that we have a mayor who thinks creatively,” Commissioner Jean Peelen declared. “I’d love to hear more about the gondola.
“Our biggest problem on this Island is traffic, but I don’t like the parking garage. If you put 500 more cars in there, it’s a real traffic issue. I don’t want to create more places for people to park.”
Monti said the idea is to “capture the cars there and give them other ways to get around the Island,” which prompted Titsworth to point out, “You’re putting the cart before the horse. There’s no safe place to ride bikes.”
When polled, all five commissioners said they do not like the parking garage, but they like the event pavilion and changing cabanas. There were mixed feelings about the gondola, with Titsworth, Zaccagnino and Commissioner Pat Morton not in favor and Peelen and Commissioner Marvin Grossman willing to wait and hear from the public at Monti’s presentation on April 16 at 5 p.m. at city hall.
Paid parking
Monti asked how commissioners feel about paid parking at the public beach and Titsworth, Zaccagnino and Morton said no and Peelen and Grossman said they are undecided.
“It’s one of the few places left in Florida that working people can go to the beach for free,” Zaccagnino said.
“My objection is that people will find the free places to park in residential neighborhoods and shopping centers, and we’ll have to have more tow away zones and signs,” Titsworth said.
“You say you don’t want more people, but keep it free,” Monti countered. “That’s a contradiction. If you want to have less people, charge them. Free parking attracts more people.”
Bicycle racks
Commissioners liked Monti’s plan for bike racks depicting spirals with decorative fishes, a large fish and a whale, which he feels would encourage bicycle use.
Monti said he is working on an alternative bike path, which could be Island-wide. He also said four bicycle rack spots take the place of one vehicle parking spot for beach renourishment purposes.
“The concept is to make the Island more bike friendly and pick up beach renourishment points,” he explained.
He said he found an artist in Tampa who submitted the designs and the bike racks would be made of aluminum. He said he hopes to get the Manatee County Tourist Development Council and sponsors to pay for them.
Peelen said she loved the idea and asked how big they and how much they would cost. Monti said 10 to 12 feet high. He has received quotes of $2,379 and $2,570 for two of the designs.
“What’s wrong with kickstands?” Titsworth asked. “This is not a natural look. They look touristy. I like wooden ones.”
“It’s difficult to secure bicycles at beach ends and you can’t use your kickstand,” resident Carol Soustek pointed out. “Bicyclists are looking for security.”
Titsworth told Monti to present a plan of where he would like to install the bike racks.