BRADENTON BEACH – Mayor John Chappie took swift action to halt a beachfront resort company’s short-lived efforts to designate public parking spaces at the 23rd Street North beach access point as parking reserved for resort guests only.
Owned by the city of Bradenton Beach, the public beach access point and its 10 public parking spaces are located at the west end of 23rd Street North, between the Seabreeze at Anna Maria Island Inn (2300 Gulf Drive N.) and the Seaside at Anna Maria Island Inn (2200 Gulf Drive N.).
According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office, Tri Star Properties LLC owns both resort properties that share the Anna Maria Island Inn branding. Dated April 28, the LLC’s Florida limited liability company annual report lists attorney Louis Najmy as the corporation’s registered agent, Daniel Zoller Jr. as an authorized person and Shawn Kaleta as the manager.
A visit to the 23rd Street North beach access point at approximately 11:00 a.m. Thursday morning (May 22) revealed six guest only parking signs placed on private property in close proximity to the 10 city-owned public parking spaces.
The blue and white signs said, “Seaside Resort & Spa Prime Hotels PARKING ONLY. All vehicles without a visible parking pass will be towed at owner’s expense.” The signs also referenced Manatee Towing and the towing company’s phone number.
Photographs, comments and questions about the resorts’ new self-imposed parking restrictions appeared on Facebook earlier this week.
In June 2022, The Seabreeze at Anna Maria Island Inn tried to impose similar guest only parking restrictions at that location but the city quickly put an end to those efforts. It was stated back then that resort guests can park in the public beach access spaces but the spaces cannot be reserved for resort guests.
Signs removed
The new guest only parking signs were removed by resort personnel early Thursday afternoon. When speaking to The Sun an hour or so later, Mayor Chappie said he first noticed the new signs on Monday or Tuesday and he then contacted Police Chief John Cosby and City Attorney Ricinda Perry.
“I was very disappointed,” Chappie said. “We’ve been getting calls and we were hesitant to say go ahead and park there because we didn’t want anyone to have their cars towed. That’s why I wanted to get this taken care of before Memorial Day weekend started. That’s everybody’s parking.”
Chappie said when he and Code Enforcement Officer Evan Harbus arrived at the beach access property at mid-day Thursday, some resort employees were already in the process of removing the signs, as directed by resort management.
“We made it clear this is public parking and they can’t regulate parking in a public right of way,” Chappie said. “I told them if they didn’t remove the signs we’ll end up putting bollards up; and I reminded the guys there today that these parking spaces are also counted for beach renourishment. The signs needed to come down and they took them down.”
When asked if overnight parking is allowed in beach access parking spaces, Chappie said he wasn’t sure but he’s looking into it.
Regarding the previous incident in 2022, Chappie said, “I remember it well. They were told they can’t regulate parking in a public right of way.”
To report an improper or suspected improper public parking restriction, call the Bradenton Beach Code Enforcement Department at 941-778-1005, ext. 227.
