BRADENTON – In December, the Bradenton City Council is expected to discuss the regulation of the business activity taking place along the Palma Sola Causeway in west Bradenton.
During the Nov. 4 Palma Sola Scenic Highway Byway Organization meeting, Palma Sola resident Keith Burchette recapped his recent conversation with Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown about the personal watercraft rental businesses occurring along the causeway.
“The mayor called me and said they received six letters from the community,” Burchette said. “He said he’s working with the city attorney, and he got recommendations to go before the council on how they’re going to regulate this – primarily about the jet skis.”
Burchette said Brown indicated the agenda had already been set for the city council’s November meeting, but he would suggest the causeway concerns be discussed during the council’s Dec. 9 meeting.
“It sounded encouraging,” Burchette said. “This made me feel like my political representatives are looking after my interests. He said he is working with the attorney and they’re going to discuss it.”
Burchette said he got the impression that the Bradenton mayor might have something to announce or propose during the December meeting.
Burchette said it’s hurtful to see the causeway has become the butt of jokes because of the signage and commercial activity occurring there. Several city officials on Anna Maria Island have said during public meetings that they don’t want their beaches and boat ramps to look like the causeway.
Keith Kaiman, president of the Flamingo Cay Homeowners Association, said there is a city council meeting scheduled at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18. He said concerned citizens can address their causeway concerns with the council during the general public comment portion of the November meeting, even though the causeway discussion won’t be on the agenda.
“We don’t know if it will be an ordinance or a recommended ordinance,” Palma Sola Scenic Highway Byway Organization Vice Chair Ingrid McClellan told The Sun on Nov. 6, regarding the city council’s potential actions.
The Palma Sola Causeway is part of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)-designated scenic highway that stretches from 75th Street West and Manatee Avenue in west Bradenton to Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach.
In recent years, the causeway has become heavily populated by business operators offering personal watercraft rentals, boat rentals, horse rides and more.
In recent months, McClellan has been emailing city, county and state officials seeking enforcement of the rules and regulations in place. She has repeatedly shared with city, county and state officials her views that the commercial activities taking place along the causeway violate Bradenton’s sign regulations, the state of Florida’s right-of-way use regulations and the outdoor advertising prohibitions set forth in the federal Highway Beautification Act.
An FDOT encroachment brochure lists the following prohibited uses of an FDOT-designated scenic highway: “Any use which interferes with the safety and efficiency of the road, display of advertising of any sort, solicitation, display or free distribution of any merchandise, goods, property or services.”
The Dec. 9 meeting agenda has not yet been posted on the Bradenton city website, but council meetings are typically held at 8:30 a.m. at Bradenton City Hall, at 101 Old Main St. W. in downtown Bradenton.
