BRADENTON BEACH – Potential code violations at the Salt Bar & Table restaurant are being investigated by the Bradenton Beach Code Enforcement Department.
“They are working with the property owner to garner compliance,” City Attorney Erica Augello said during the April 16 city commission meeting.
Located at 2519 Gulf Drive North, Salt Bar & Table restaurant is owned by 2519 Gulf LLC, a limited liability corporation that lists Shawn Kaleta as its manager.
“It’s in my area and I’m up to here with it,” Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce said.
She asked Augello to clarify what the specific code enforcement or compliance issues are.
“During the investigation, there were certain things that were elicited that might have been code violations. One was concrete that was installed without a permit. One was a fence that was installed, I believe, without a permit,” Augello said. “There was a question about outdoor dining and the parking issue.”
Salt Bar & Table does not have a dedicated parking lot and Scaccianoce said she’s received many complaints from residents about the valet parking at the restaurant.
“The valet is using 26th Street as a staging area for the cars. When people are coming to Salt, the valet is putting the cars in the active driving lane facing east. If the person is leaving the restaurant, they’re bringing the car around in the active lane on 26th Street facing west,” Scaccianoce said. “Every day I go home, there are cars facing in opposite directions waiting either for people to get out of their cars to go into the restaurant or coming out of the restaurant to their car, and you cannot drive down 26th Street.”
She also said the valet employees are rude to residents.
“They cuss at people. They wave us off and tell us to drive away and use a different street. That is unacceptable,” Scaccianoce said.
Scaccianoce owns the Double Deez Chicago Style Restaurant in Holmes Beach and she noted she must adhere to the city’s licensing stipulations for parking.
“My seat license is 40 and I had to have a parking space for every four people,” she said. “If I wasn’t sharing a parking lot with the Anchor Inn bar, I would not have gotten permission to open my restaurant, because I only have three spaces,” she said.
“I don’t know how Salt is getting away with what they’re doing. Their seat license is either indoor or outdoor and they’re using both all the time,” Scaccianoce said. “Salt is out of control, and it goes way beyond pouring concrete and putting up a fence.”
Augello said in addition to the patio and fence, the city is investigating the outdoor dining and parking issues.
“Those things are all being discussed with the property owner. Permits are being applied for, I believe,” Augello said. “Applications are being put together. Right now, there’s no active code enforcement case on the property. There’s been no notice of violations issued.”
Bradenton Beach permit technician Jodie Fiske told The Sun on April 17 that permit applications were under review.
“Whether or not a notice gets issued because compliance is not being had, that might happen. We have to go through the proper channels to make sure code enforcement is being done correctly,” Augello said.
“I want to make sure the valet service is part of this,” Scaccianoce said.
Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby said everything is being looked at. Cosby supervises the city’s code enforcement division.
