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Bali Hai owners receive code fines

Bali Hai owners receive code fines

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – The fight for compliance with city codes is still ongoing between the owners of the Bali Hai Beach Resort and city leaders. Now, the owners of the resort are going to have to pay fines until the issues are resolved.

Two cases against the hotel ownership were heard during a June 11 code compliance special magistrate hearing. One concerned work being done without a permit and the second was the operation of a bar/lounge without an approved site plan.

Though no one appeared on behalf of the owner to argue the case, the attorney for the city, Erica Augello, said she received an email from attorney Louis Najmy during the hearing objecting to Special Magistrate Michael Connolly not granting a continuance to the two cases and objecting to not being able to attend the hearing held at Holmes Beach City Hall by Zoom or teleconference. In his email, Najmy also said he had previously requested discovery by the city, which he had not received.

Connolly said he was not inclined to grant a continuance for the case, while code Officer James Thomas said he’d spoken to Najmy several times in previous weeks about the hearing and issues at the property.

In his case submittal, Thomas said he’s viewed construction work being done on the second level of a small accessory building on the property multiple times without permits since 2020. Previously, Connolly ruled against the property for completing demolition work in the same space without permits. Now, Thomas said that space has been rebuilt and is being occupied as an office without permits and without inspections to make sure the area is safe.

In addition, a bar/lounge is being used on the bottom floor of the same building without an approved site plan in violation of city codes. While the resort’s owners have submitted site plans to the city over the past year, Building Official Neal Schwartz said issues still persist with the site plan submittals. Though one was scheduled to go before city commissioners for approval earlier in 2021, the item was pulled from the commission’s agenda by the applicant to make changes. It has not yet been resubmitted to be scheduled for a public hearing.

In addition to the bar/lounge operating without an approved site plan, Thomas said he’s received numerous complaints from neighbors about noise and other issues related to the bar/lounge use on the property.

During public comment, a neighbor to the Bali Hai, Jeanetta Moss, said that since the new owners took over the property she’s had problems with loud parties, drunk people and people trespassing on neighboring residential properties.

“The Bali Hai has not been a good neighbor since the renovations occurred,” Moss said. “I hope they will be compliant and be the good neighbor it once was.”

In both cases, Connolly ruled against the resort’s ownership, requiring them to pay $127.24 in administrative fees and $500-a-day fines until the resort is in compliance with city codes in each case, resulting in a $1,000-a-day fine for the owners. He also ordered the owners to obtain after-the-fact permits for all work done without a permit, cease all operations of the bar/lounge until the property is brought into compliance and for them to schedule a public hearing for the site plan approval by the end of June with city leaders.

Related coverage

Bali Hai site plan negotiations continue

Bali Hai site plan review hits a snag

Going on a musical journey with Steve Augeri

Going on a musical journey with Steve Augeri

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment, Music.

ANNA MARIA – Journey’s Steve Augeri came to The Center of Anna Maria Island on June 17 and the crowd went wild for his classic rock hits.

As a part of the Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series, former Journey lead vocalist Augeri led his band in a rendition of all of the classic rock band’s hits, from “Separate Ways” to “Lights,” “Wheel in the Sky,” “Faithfully” and “Don’t Stop Believing.” The crowd cheered, danced, and even got on their feet to sing along in front of the stage during “Any Way You Want It.”

The concert, Augeri’s first in 15 months due to COVID-19 closures and live music cancelations, was one of the most engaging performances of this year’s concert series.

Local musician Sara Nelms took the stage before Augeri, warming up the crowd with her beautiful voice while playing acoustic guitar.

Next in the concert series is the final show of the season, The Grass Roots, performing July 2 at The Center, 407 Magnolia Ave. All shows are held outside on The Center’s field rain or shine and attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs for the event. Tickets are available online.

The Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series is brought to The Center by the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau along with presenting sponsor The Sandbar Restaurant.

Steve Augeri played all of the hits from “Wheel in the Sky” to “Don’t Stop Believing” June 17 on the field at The Center of Anna Maria Island. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Steve Augeri played all of the hits from “Wheel in the Sky” to “Don’t Stop Believing” June 17 on the field at The Center of Anna Maria Island. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Local musician Sara Nelms warms up the crowd before Steve Augeri and his band take the stage. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Local musician Sara Nelms warms up the crowd before Steve Augeri and his band take the stage. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Steve Augeri and his band get the crowd going with a rendition of the Journey classic “Separate Ways.” - Kristin Swain | Sun

Steve Augeri and his band get the crowd going with a rendition of the Journey classic “Separate Ways.” - Kristin Swain | Sun

Audience members are on their feet and dancing up by the front of the stage during “Any Way You Want It.” - Kristin Swain | Sun

Audience members are on their feet and dancing up by the front of the stage during “Any Way You Want It.” - Kristin Swain | Sun

Related coverage

 

Simon Kirke brings classic rock to The Center’s stage

Castles in the Sand

Where are the downsizers?

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

Long ago and far away, homeowners getting ready to retire would sell their family home to younger families looking to move up and purchase a smaller less expensive property. There was also this crazy notion of sales contracts containing a contingency on the buyer selling their home. Well, in case you haven’t noticed, those days are long gone.

The real estate market is so hot that homeowners frequently don’t want to sell because buying another property, even if it’s a smaller one, is too challenging. Retirees don’t want to risk the stress of finding something they’re comfortable living in and certainly don’t want the hassle of competing in the current market. Therefore, they’re not moving, which is feeding into the low inventory rates all over the country, freezing up the market.

Retirees also have plenty of good financing options without selling, should they need to tap into their equity. Refinancing both mortgage amounts and terms at today’s low rates will give them money in their pockets to offset the expenses of continuing to live in their homes. And, of course, reverse mortgages continue to be a viable option for some seniors. In addition, switching from a 30-year amortization to a 15-year amortization would help to accumulate more equity down the road when seniors may be more comfortable selling.

There are plenty of financial opinions on whether retirees should carry a mortgage or not and everyone’s financial position is different and should be analyzed by a professional. With interest rates historically low and the stock market continuing to grow, many financial advisors will be pro-mortgage and advise to invest in the stock market, instead. For retirees with an income that is sufficient to cover the monthly carrying charges of financing, this could be the obvious decision.

There are many benefits to owning a home, whether you decide to continue carrying a mortgage in retirement or pay it off. With the new tax regulations, writing off the interest on a home mortgage is not as advantageous as in previous years, but again, everyone’s situation is different.

What isn’t changing for most homeowners is the capital gains exemption when you sell your home. The way the capital gains law stands now is single tax filers get an exemption of $250,000 of net gain on the sale of a primary home. Married couples filing jointly get an exemption of $500,000 of net gain on the sale of a primary home. This exemption can be used more than once by sellers who meet the requirements as often as every two years.

With the sale prices of homes accelerating daily, there will be plenty of homeowners who will exceed their exemption limits. However, homeowners can increase their cost basis and lower their gain if they make improvements to their homes over the years. This does not mean repairs – it means improvements on landscaping, renovations and extensions to the property. If you’re not sure what qualifies and you need these extra funds to add to your cost basis, you can find exactly what the definition of “improvement” is on the IRS website.

There will probably be a change to the capital gains laws, including primary home capital gains exemptions, coming soon. However, many sellers with gains within the $250,000 to $500,000 limits won’t be affected. Capital gains above those limits will depend on income level and other factors in the proposed tax bill.

Maybe my memory of things past is fuzzy, but wasn’t buying and selling homes more civilized years ago? It was certainly less stressful, but here we are with tons of equity and the worries that go along with it.

Simon Kirke brings classic rock to The Center’s stage

Simon Kirke brings classic rock to The Center’s stage

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment, Music.

ANNA MARIA – The Center of Anna Maria Island was rocking June 11 as Simon Kirke and The Empty Pockets took the stage for the second show in the Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series.

The show was the first show that Kirke of Bad Company and Free fame and the Chicago-based The Empty Pockets had played in more than a year, since the COVID-19 pandemic brought live music to a halt in early 2020.

Captiva Island musician Johnny Jensen kicked off the show, followed by a short set from The Empty Pockets before Kirke joined them on stage.

During the set, Kirke played some of his greatest hits including “Movin’ On,” “Ready for Love,” “Bad Company,” “Shooting Star,” and even a Bob Marley-inspired reggae version of “Feel Like Making Love.” The crowd was already dancing but they really got on their feet and danced during an encore performance of “Alright Now.”

Kirke appeared as a part of the Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series brought to Anna Maria Island by the Bradenton Area Convention Center and The Sandbar Restaurant.

The next show on the schedule is Steve Augeri of Journey on June 17 followed by the final performance of the season, The Grass Roots on July 2.

For more information on the concert series or to purchase tickets, visit The Center’s event page.

Bad Company’s Simon Kirke plays a Bob Marley-inspired version of the hit “Feel Like Making Love” with The Empty Pockets during a show at The Center of Anna Maria Island. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Bad Company’s Simon Kirke plays a Bob Marley-inspired version of the hit “Feel Like Making Love” with The Empty Pockets during a show at The Center of Anna Maria Island. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Prior to Simon Kirke taking the stage, The Empty Pockets helped warm up the crowd with a few of their own songs. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Prior to Simon Kirke taking the stage, The Empty Pockets helped warm up the crowd with a few of their own songs. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Simon Kirke entertains the audience with one of his many stories of life on the road. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Simon Kirke entertains the audience with one of his many stories of life on the road. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Simon Kirke takes a moment to slow things down by playing “Maria”, a love song that he wrote for his wife. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Simon Kirke takes a moment to slow things down by playing “Maria”, a love song that he wrote for his wife. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Simon Kirke jams out with Josh Solomon of The Empty Pockets. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Simon Kirke jams out with Josh Solomon of The Empty Pockets. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Rock and roll legend Simon Kirke plays some of his biggest hits with The Empty Pockets as a part of the Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series at The Center. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Rock and roll legend Simon Kirke plays some of his biggest hits with The Empty Pockets as a part of the Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series at The Center. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Simon Kirke of Bad Company and Free rocks out on the drum kit during a rendition of “Movin’ On” at The Center of Anna Maria Island. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Simon Kirke of Bad Company and Free rocks out on the drum kit during a rendition of “Movin’ On” at The Center of Anna Maria Island. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Related coverage

Rock legend to play The Center

Summer may be different this year

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The first day of summer is almost here. On Monday, June 21, we not only witness the longest day of the year, but what many Island residents consider the end of the busy tourist season.

In years past, the first day of summer has meant less traffic, a decrease in beach crowding, and a general slower pace of life that comes with the end of “season.” Although much of the uncertainty that came with 2020 is beginning to fade away, a new ambivalence may be creating a new normal, at least for the summer of 2021.

“We love the tourists, and know how much money they inject into the local economy during the winter and spring season,” said Sandra Bostic, a resident of Bradenton Beach. “But I have to admit when we see the news remind us it’s the beginning of hurricane season or notice the first day of summer is around the corner, my husband and I look forward to things just slowing down, but I’m not sure that’s going to happen this year.”

Bostic’s predictions are borne out by visitors.

“I can’t wait to get to the Island,” said Jamie Carte, a West Virginia resident who is planning to visit with his wife and two children July 10-17. “I honestly don’t care if there are storms, and I’m not afraid of heat or hurricanes. You guys get hit less than just about anywhere else in Florida or the Gulf coast; seems pretty safe to me. We dealt with some big snow this year, we got our COVID shots and we’re headed to Anna Maria.”

Carte is not alone. Island innkeepers are seeing the number of bookings at resorts and condos being well above anything many have seen for the months of June and July. Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is reporting a record number of scheduled visitors to come through their gates in the same period of time. Trends suggest the large increase in summer bookings is a combination of vaccinations, visitors not being able to travel for more than 14 months (especially from northeastern states), children being out of school and money saved from not traveling during COVID-19 lockdown.

Another factor that could see the Island have a record summer is the possibility that Canada and Europe could ease travel restrictions very soon. The Canadian government is expected to ease COVID-19 quarantine restrictions in early July.

On June 8, the Biden administration announced it is working with not only Canada, but Mexico, the United Kingdom and the European Union to determine how to lift border restrictions. A timeline for when restrictions will be eased has yet to be established.

If restrictions are eased in July, Canadian and European visitors could keep the busy season going longer than has ever been seen on Anna Maria Island, possibly making 2021 the busiest summer in AMI history.

“I find it amazing that with the threat of red tide, the threat of hurricanes, the sticky heat, and the fact COVID isn’t gone, regardless of how it seems, that this many people want to be here in the summer; it blows my mind,” said Kelly Briscoe, a resident of Holmes Beach. Briscoe plans to spend the summer in Annapolis, Maryland, where she will still be near the water but away from the storms, heat and other aspects of the Gulf coast she deems “unpleasant.”

The general sentiment is very simple: People not only want, but need a vacation after one of the most difficult years of the 21st century.

“We couldn’t take it anymore; the kids were going crazy and even the dog was tired of us being in his space 24 hours a day,” said Iowa resident Bobby Browning, who was visiting with his family in Anna Maria June 5-12. “My wife was laid off for much of 2020, but is back to work now, and I’ve been working remotely from home for more than a year.”

Browning said his family’s visit to the Island has been quite special.

“This has been our best vacation in a long time,” he said. “The weather’s been perfect, the people have been great, and the beach is beyond awesome. The only issue we’ve run into is the restaurants all seem to be understaffed. We’ve had long waits, and waited much longer to get food than expected. I know it’s a nationwide problem, so we just accept it and keep a positive attitude.”

Browning said he could understand why people would book a trip to Anna Maria Island regardless of the “season” or time of year, adding “This place is paradise.”

Treehouse owners consider removal

Treehouse owners consider removal

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Owners of the Angelinos Sea Lodge Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen had a busy week with a court hearing and a special magistrate hearing to attend.

The most dramatic of the two hearings was the June 11 special magistrate hearing in the city of Holmes Beach when Tran broke down in tears defending herself and Hazen, who were accused of renting their four vacation rental units at Angelinos Sea Lodge without valid vacation rental certificates.

Though Tran admitted on the record that they are continuing to rent the units, she said that it’s unfair of the city to lump the resolution of the fight over the couple’s beachfront treehouse in with the business that they’ve been operating for 21 years.

The couple is caught in a Catch-22 because city leaders won’t renew their vacation rental certificates until code issues on the property are resolved. Those issues include paying the fines assessed due to the treehouse, which Tran says they can’t do without their source of income – the money they get from renting the four vacation rental units.

For the first time in the 10 years since its construction, Tran publicly said she and Hazen are considering removing the treehouse just to end the issues between them and city leaders, though she said that isn’t something that can be done overnight. She also added they’re awaiting final verdicts in all three of the pending court cases concerning the treehouse before making a final decision about its removal.

Tran said they’re willing to work with the city to come to a reasonable solution to the problems.

The couple was denied renewal of their vacation rental certificates in late 2020 due to the outstanding code violation on the property, namely the continued existence of the treehouse in its beachfront Australian pine-and-telephone-pole perch and the more than $200,000 in fines accumulated against it. City leaders say the matter of the treehouse needs to be resolved and the fines settled before the VRCs can be renewed to allow the couple to rent the units legally in the city.

Since an after-the-fact permit for the treehouse cannot be given because it doesn’t meet current building codes, city leaders are demanding that the treehouse be removed. One of the three cases concerning the treehouse pending in 12th Judicial Circuit Court is an injunction for the city to forcibly have the treehouse removed. The case does not yet have a court date set for a hearing.

Special Magistrate Michael Connolly recommended Tran, Hazen and city leaders engage in arbitration. Connolly, who said he doesn’t have the jurisdiction to grant renewal of the couple’s VRCs and ruled there is a continuing violation on the property, did not assess a fine in addition to the current $125 per day fine he ordered during an April code compliance hearing.

12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Charles Sniffen heard the city’s motion to dismiss the third amended complaint lodged by Tran and Hazen on June 9, with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection joining the city’s motion.

In the complaint, Tran and Hazen allege the actions taken against them by the city and FDEP violate their rights as property owners and as people. In her arguments, Tran said the case was filed to stop the forcible removal of the treehouse by the city and the accumulation of daily fines, which have been collecting at $50 per day since a code enforcement hearing in 2015. Tran served as her and Hazen’s counsel during the hearing.

The $50-per-day fine is in addition to the $125-per-day fine assessed by Connolly in response to the couple’s continued renting of the property in violation of the Holmes Beach vacation rental certificate ordinance.

Speaking on behalf of the city, attorney Randy Mora said the city is sympathetic to her serving as their counsel but feels the matter needs to move forward, urging Sniffen to dismiss the case with prejudice so that it cannot be refiled.

Tran said she’s working to write the complaint for herself and her husband and if Sniffen rules that it be amended again, she said she’d like more specific instructions about what needs to be included rather than have him dismiss the complaint altogether. When pleading for relief, she said she’s not sure what relief is possible at this point but hopes that the case will go to trial and she will be permitted to provide discovery materials to the court.

“I can only hope that justice will be rendered,” Tran said.

Though Sniffen said he would provide a ruling on the case by June 11, no ruling had been filed as of press time for The Sun.

Related coverage

 

U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear treehouse owners’ case

 

More fines added to treehouse owners’ tab with Holmes Beach

 

Treehouse owners get harassing calls

Castles in the Sand

The explosion of the millions

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

As we all know, the real estate market has gone from fundamentally shut down to an unparalleled explosion of demand for housing all over the country, and particularly in Florida. Buyers and real estate professionals are trying to maneuver their way through the maze of historic low inventory and pent-up buyer activity. The result of all this is outsized prices pushing buyers and creating bidding wars.

Recently, buyers have added different strategies to set themselves apart. For instance, cash is king, and if you have it or can borrow it, your offer will put you in the top tier of buyers.

Buyers love non-contingency offers; that means no mortgage as we discussed, but also no home inspection. It’s a good strategy if you’re comfortable with the property, especially if you know something about home construction.

One of the newest strategies out there in this market is an escalation clause in your offer. In order to be competitive, buyers are stipulating that they will top any offer from another buyer up to a certain level. This at least keeps you in the game and gives you an opportunity to improve your offer.

In addition, it’s always important to be flexible, but in this market, it’s essential. Get yourself in a position to change your desired closing date to fit the schedule of the seller as well as accepting any little quirky changes that may come up.

Finally, don’t wait if a new property comes on the market – be prepared to act quickly.

Now let’s look at the million-dollar-and-over market in the three cities on Anna Maria Island and in Cortez. This analysis will cover February, March and April closed sales as reported on the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s website and properties that are currently on the market or pending from realtor.com.

Cortez closed three properties over $1 million; one for $2,250,000, one for $1,215,000 and one for $1,075,000. The last three-month analysis showed two properties over $1 million.

The city of Anna Maria closed 31 properties; one for $4 million, three for $3 million or over, five over $2 million and 22 at $1 million or over. The last analysis showed that Anna Maria closed 41 properties.

The combined cities of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach closed 58 properties; two over $4 million, two over $3 million, 10 over $2 million and 44 at $1 million or over. Last time, 39 properties were closed.

Available and pending properties as of this writing are, of course, a blowout again, so here we go: Cortez has a property listed at $4,750,000, the highest I have ever seen for a single-family home, and there is land listed for $1,300,000. The new development, Hunters Point, has seven properties listed from $1,300,000 to $785,000, three of them over $1 million. Last time, Cortez had three.

The city of Anna Maria has 46 properties over $1 million; one over $6 million, two over $5 million, two over $4 million, three over $3 million, 14 over $2 million and 24 over $1 million. The lowest-priced available property in the city is $995,000. Last time Anna Maria had 31 properties available.

Finally, the combined cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach had 67 properties listed or pending over $1 million; one over $6 million, two over $5 million, two over $4 million, six over $3 million, 20 over $2 million and 36 over $1 million.

I’ve decided that after 15 months of ending my column with “stay safe,” it’s time to put this phrase to bed. Not that we still shouldn’t protect ourselves and our family from COVID-19, I just feel it’s time to be more positive. Besides, we now have a new “stay safe” to contend with –  hurricanes. Here’s hoping we have a safe season.

Rock legend to play The Center

Rock legend to play The Center

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Archives.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Center of Anna Maria Island is going to rock this Friday night as legendary musician Simon Kirke takes the stage with Chicago-based band The Empty Pockets.

Kirke, one of the founding members of rock bands Bad Company and Free, will headline the show June 11 as a part of the Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series presented by the Bradenton Area Convention Center and Visitors Bureau along with The Sandbar Restaurant.

The show will be the first one Kirke’s played since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down entertainment venues and concert tours in early 2020. And after nearly 15 months without a live show, the rock icon said he’s looking forward to getting back on the stage and playing some of his best-known hits from his solo career, Bad Company and Free. Some of those hits include “Alright Now” from Free, “Bad Company,” “Ready for Love,” “Shooting Star” and “Feel Like Making Love” from Bad Company. And with the crowd singing along to his songs, Kirke said hearing and playing the hits still gives him a thrill, inspiring him to keep performing for audiences.

During the show, Kirke won’t just be rocking the stage from his drum kit, the multi-talented musician said he’ll also be singing during the set, which he said brings back memories of his years performing with Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band. In addition to the drums, Kirke also plays guitar and keyboard.

The show at The Center will be Kirke’s first trip to Anna Maria Island, something he says he’s excited about.

“I’m very much looking forward to coming down there,” he said in a June 4 talk with The Sun.

Kirke’s been in the music industry for about 50 years. After making a deal with his parents to either find a gig as a drummer with a band or go to college, Kirke said the decision nearly came down to his two-year deadline before he found a place playing with the Black Cat Bones. And it’s all been uphill from there, though if he had lost the wager with his parents and gone to university, Kirke said he thinks he would have pursued photojournalism.

“I’ve had a lot of good breaks in my life,” he said, “but I’m of the opinion that somewhere along the way you make your own luck and I think that’s what happened to me. I’ve been very lucky to go from Free in 1973 to go to Bad Company.”

Kirke has been a member of Bad Company since its formation in 1974.

Of the upcoming show at The Center, Kirke said he’s very much anticipating the June 11 concert and getting back in the groove of performing live.

“I’m really looking forward to reuniting with The Empty Pockets,” he said. “They’re so diverse. They have an amazing songbook. They’re all wonderful instrumentalists.”

“Also performing. I love performing,” Kirke added.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with the music beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for $60-75 each online. The concert will take place on the field at The Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, rain or shine. Make sure to bring your own lawn chair and a face mask to use when not able to social distance. No outside drinks will be permitted though The Sandbar will have a cash bar onsite. Street parking and complimentary valet parking are available.

Bank rezone passes first reading despite resident protests

Bank rezone passes first reading despite resident protests

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners are halfway through rezoning approvals for the former Regions Bank property, despite the protests of several residents who’d rather not see a new Publix pharmacy and package store at the property.

The rezone came up for its first public hearing and vote during a May 25 commission meeting, during which commissioners said that they cannot deny the rezone request from C-1 to C-2 without a good reason, such as that it does not meet city standards. They all agreed with staff reports on the project that the application does meet with all city standards. The property also is surrounded by C-2 zoned properties.

Currently, the former Regions Bank location at 503 Manatee Ave. W. has been empty for eight years. Now Publix plans to renovate the existing building to be a liquor store and pharmacy location with a walking path between that building and the existing grocery store to encourage people to not move their car to go from one to the other. Right now, the property is zoned C-1, which allows for office space, banks and medical offices. Changing the property to C-2 allows for retail sales on the property.

Residents who spoke up about the potential rezone during public comment listed a few reasons for the request to be denied with a few of them agreeing that it would be better as an urgent care facility instead of a liquor store and pharmacy.

Resident Nancy Scott said she’s concerned about Holmes Beach becoming too commercialized and would like to see some sort of educational attraction placed in some of the vacant commercial buildings in the city.

Resident Tim Cullinan said that he feels rezoning the property would set a precedent for rezoning two other vacant bank properties in the city.

Another concern was that the retail use would increase traffic in the area, potentially causing more traffic accidents, something Police Chief Bill Tokajer said wasn’t a concern. He said he’d spoken with the city’s traffic engineer and that the proposed usage wasn’t expected to cause any more traffic than what had been there when the bank was in business. To help reduce accidents in the area, he’s suggested to the Florida Department of Transportation that Sixth Avenue become a right-turn-only option to Manatee Avenue instead of people being able to turn left and block traffic across the state road.

Commissioner Jim Kihm said he feels that the revitalization and use of the property proposed by representatives for Publix would be a productive asset for the community.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said that the request met all of the city’s requirements and that she’s looking forward to seeing the property in use again rather than sitting vacant.

During a June 2 planning commission meeting, planning commissioners voted unanimously to approve the rezone as consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan.

The matter is scheduled to go back before commissioners for a final vote and public hearing Tuesday, June 8 at 6 p.m. While the public is invited to view the commission meeting and following work session online via Zoom, you must appear in person in commission chambers during the meeting to make comments.

Related coverage

 

Parks committee members set sights on former bank property

 

Former Holmes Beach planning commissioner

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Memorial Day weekend parking sparks drama in Holmes Beach

Parking rift between city, county widens over Memorial Day

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Memorial Day weekend brought thousands of people to Anna Maria Island to celebrate the holiday weekend, exacerbating the disagreement between Manatee County commissioners and Holmes Beach city leaders over beach parking.

Prior to the start of the weekend, some Manatee County leaders wanted Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth to open more residential city streets for public beach parking. Titsworth refused, and new County Administrator Scott Hopes made a late-night deal on May 28 with the Manatee County School Board, of which he was a member at the time, to use the parking lot at Anna Maria Elementary School for public parking through Memorial Day, though overnight parking was not allowed there. He also allowed for the public to use the parking lot at the Island Branch Library for beach parking after the library closed for the weekend.

While Hopes informed county commissioners of the decision, Titsworth said that he did not provide any notice of the parking allowances to Holmes Beach leaders or police.

If the county’s leaders wish to continue providing public parking at the school and library sites, Titsworth said they’re going to have to work with the city on it.

First, she said the use of the school property for anything other than its intended use requires either a special use permit from the city or an updated site plan approval by city staff and potentially city commissioners.

A temporary special use permit is needed to provide parking one time or sporadically at the site. A site plan amendment would be needed to provide beach parking at the school on an ongoing basis.

Beach parking at the Island Branch Library poses a more difficult challenge for county officials, primarily because the property is owned by the city of Holmes Beach and leased by the county strictly for the library. Providing beach parking in the library parking lot is in violation of the county’s lease for the property, Titsworth said.

If county officials push to provide additional beach parking at the school, Titsworth said she would remove an equal number of spots from residential streets. She said she would not be adding any additional beach parking in Holmes Beach.

Holmes Beach currently has 1,261 non-permit public parking spaces and 642 residential permit-only parking spaces until 5 p.m. daily within a quarter-mile of the beach, including spaces located at beach access points. When city leaders closed off some residential streets to public parking following a COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020 of all beach parking spaces, 497 parking spaces were lost citywide.

Hopes did not return calls for comment.

Holiday weekend numbers

After the holiday weekend, Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that he counted an average of 31,222 vehicles passing into the city each day from Friday, May 28 through Monday, May 31 for a total of just under 125,000 vehicles. Despite a large number of people in the city, Tokajer said Holmes Beach police officers only wrote 169 parking tickets, and none of those were at the two parking lots authorized by Hopes. Some parking tickets were written for cars parked at AME, but those were written by Manatee County officers patrolling that area, he said.

In a May 28 email to county commissioners, Hopes said that parking at the school would be available in the designated parking lot May 29-31 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and that the county would make sure that all litter, trash and debris was removed from the school parking lot by June 1 at 7 a.m.

While the trash was removed from the school parking lot, Tokajer said that county officials did not make any preparations for the additional trash at beach access points near the school to be collected. He added that he and other city officials heard about the beach parking at the school and library from local media outlets and that he was very disappointed that the city was not included in the conversation with the county officials who made the decision to allow the extra beach parking. In the future, Tokajer said he hopes there will be open communication between city and county leaders.

Titsworth said she felt that other than issues with trash, the impromptu parking at the school and library went well over the weekend. She said that issues with additional parking throughout the city remain, such as the need for additional trash and restroom facilities and lifeguards to be stationed further down the beach than just at Manatee Beach. Without these necessities, Titsworth said a public health and safety issue persists.

As Tokajer and his officers patrolled the parking areas over the weekend, they discovered that the majority of people using the parking areas that county commissioners intended for Manatee County residents weren’t used by residents.

At the parking lot at AME, Tokajer said on Saturday there were 47 cars parked in the lot. When officers ran the plates of those cars, it was noted that only one vehicle was from Manatee County. At the Manatee Beach parking lot, he said there were 335 vehicles parked and less than 10% of those were from Manatee County.

On Memorial Day, Tokajer said he observed a group of six vehicles in a row parked with the occupants unloading for the beach. When asked, he said the occupants of five cars said they were from Orlando and the sixth was from Ocala.

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Memorial Day weekend parking sparks drama in Holmes Beach

Memorial Day weekend parking sparks drama in Holmes Beach

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – The ongoing saga of beach parking in the biggest city on Anna Maria Island is hitting a fever pitch over the busy Memorial Day weekend.

In a bid to gain more parking for Manatee County residents and visitors going to the Island’s beaches, county Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge announced during a May 25 commission meeting that he would be asking Holmes Beach officials to reopen street parking that was turned into permit parking for city residents only in the wake of COVID-19 closures. The consideration for making some streets near beaches permit-only parking until 5 p.m. wasn’t a new idea, it was just made easier to implement after all parking was closed due to pandemic shutdowns.

Last week, county commissioners sent a letter to Holmes Beach officials asking them to reopen the parking spaces to everyone in the public – not just the city’s residents – for the busy Memorial Day weekend. Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth denied the request.

If all of this sounds familiar, it’s because trying to demand more parking on Holmes Beach streets for the public on the Island has been an ongoing theme since Van Ostenbridge took office in November. And each time the subject’s been broached, city leaders have denied the request, citing safety concerns for residents and overcrowding during busy times on the Island. Titsworth’s response has consistently been that Holmes Beach residents shouldn’t bear the brunt of the need for more parking on the Island and that county officials should consider alternative transportation options instead of focusing on parking.

With an average of 30,000 people coming to Holmes Beach daily during season and more than that on busy holiday weekends, according to numbers provided by Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, finding a way to accommodate that many cars on a 7-mile island won’t be an easy task. Titsworth suggests people coming from the mainland take advantage of other transportation options, such as the beach express free bus that allows people to park their cars at 75th Street and Manatee Avenue in the Beachway Plaza and take a bus ride to the Island’s beaches.

To solve the immediate issue of Memorial Day weekend parking, County Administrator Scott Hopes received permission from the Manatee County School Board to open the lots at Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach for public parking, though no overnight parking was permitted. Hopes also arranged for public parking at the Island Branch Library in Holmes Beach after the library closed at 5 p.m. on May 29.

In an email to county commissioners, Hopes said he would personally oversee the launch of public parking at the two sites and that they would be monitored by code officers. He added that the county would be in charge of all cleaning and trash pickup from the two parking areas.

All permit parking spaces in Holmes Beach open to the public after 5 p.m. daily.

Adding to the traffic congestion at the start of the Memorial Day weekend was a Florida Department of Transportation intersection improvement project at the intersection of Manatee Avenue and Gulf Drive just in front of the entrance to Manatee Beach.

The project shut down two left-turn lanes at the intersection, one going north on Gulf Drive and another going east on Manatee Avenue from Gulf Drive. Though construction on the project stopped in the afternoon on Friday, May 28, it picks up again for milling and resurfacing overnight from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. June 1-4.

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Travel + Leisure shows love for Anna Maria Island

Travel + Leisure shows love for Anna Maria Island

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Although Anna Maria Island is comprised of three cities – Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach – Travel + Leisure recently bestowed the entire Island with the number 2 spot on its list of “most charming small towns in Florida.”

In its recent top 10 list, Travel + Leisure called AMI one of the state’s best-kept secrets. As Memorial Day weekend traffic can mean more than an hour just to cross one of the Island’s bridges, it may be hard for many to believe AMI is still a secret, but in the article, the publication cites the white sand beaches, emerald and sapphire seas, shops, galleries, restaurants and Instagram-worthy spots as reason for the high ranking on the list. 

Castles in the Sand

It’s worth the stretch

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

A very wise real estate broker I was fortunate to meet more than 40 years ago not only got me interested in selling real estate, but also gave me great advice about buying as much house as you can possibly afford. In a fundamental way, it changed my life, pushing me to buy a home I loved but thought I couldn’t afford.

Today’s millennials are facing the same decisions my husband and I made all those years ago. Should we take the leap into homeownership, spending more than we ever thought we would, or should we play it safe?

As difficult as it is for buyers to find a home in this market, if you do find one and it’s over the top of your price point, don’t discard it. My rule of thumb is if a lender thinks you’re qualified, believe them, even if your parents and friends think you’re nuts. Get into the game now and you’re set for the next 30 years and you won’t be at the mercy of landlords.

Generally, lenders are qualifying buyers based on between a quarter and a third of their monthly gross income on the monthly mortgage payment. That range increases to between 35% and 45% of your monthly gross income if you include maintenance, taxes and insurance. Credit scores are still very important in analyzing credit worthiness, so be ready in the event you have anything on your credit report that is incorrect or needs an explanation.

Finally, first-time buyers are frequently short on cash and may opt for a mortgage down payment of less than 20%. If you are considering this, don’t forget that you will be required to pay mortgage insurance, which will cost from $30 to $70 a month for every $100,000 borrowed. This insurance is for the protection of the lender should you default on the loan before there is a sufficient build-up of equity. It will stay in effect until you have paid enough of the principal to equal equity in the amount of 20% of the home’s value. Also, the mortgage insurance payment will count towards your monthly costs and will be included when qualifying for a mortgage.

Historically, mortgage rates are very low and housing costs are very high. But should buyers sit out the market waiting for prices to come down? Good luck with that; the only time home values went down was after the financial crisis, which was generated by risky mortgage lending and exotic mortgage programs, all of which have been corrected through legislation passed after the crisis.

Even if buyers end up with a mortgage payment they are not totally comfortable with, it’s likely they will grow into the payment. As younger buyers establish careers, the anticipation is their income is likely to rise over time, so while you’re stretching to make those early monthly payments, you’re building equity and long-term wealth. Young buyers also should not discount the psychological benefits of owning a home of your own – pride of ownership, family building and becoming part of a community have real-life benefits.

Playing it safe turned out not to be in my playbook, so thank you, June, for confirming what I already knew. As my mother always said, paying rent is throwing money away, another wise woman. Go for the stretch, you 30-year-olds; you’ll look back on it as one of life’s pivotal moments. Stay safe, we’re almost there.

Privateers Fourth of July parade is a go

Privateers Fourth of July parade is a go

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, Family fun, Parades.

HOLMES BEACH – With the support of Holmes Beach city leaders, the Anna Maria Island Privateers’ Fourth of July Processional is officially coming back in 2021.

Commissioners voted unanimously during a May 25 meeting to approve the temporary event permit for the parade, giving their stamp of approval for the return of one of the Island’s premier events. This year’s event is scheduled for Sunday, July 4, setting sail at 10 a.m. from Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach and continuing down Gulf Drive, East Bay Drive, Manatee Avenue, Marina Drive, Palm Drive and Pine Avenue to Bayfront Park in Anna Maria. The event is free to participants in the parade who are asked to sign up in advance at www.amiprivateers.org and to the public.

Due to COVID-19 precautions, Privateers President Kim Boyd said that the group is asking all participants with 10 or more people on a float to wear masks and do a temperature check before boarding the float. Also, anyone participating in the parade who gets within 6 feet of parade viewers will need to wear a mask and gloves.

No candy will be allowed to be thrown from floats this year. Participants and parade spectators also are asked to not throw water balloons during the parade.

“We’re trying to do everything we can to promote this as a COVID-safe event,” Boyd said.

She added that city leaders in Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach had already approved the event.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said that she feels that it’s OK to have “a little celebration here and there” to help people forget about COVID-19 and have a good time in an outdoor environment.

Commissioner Jim Kihm said that he feels people should be able to use common sense when celebrating the holiday.

“I am looking forward to this,” he said. “Thank you for doing this for the community.”

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WMFR logo

Commissioners vote to increase fire assessment rates

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, West Manatee Fire Rescue.

BRADENTON – Property owners in the West Manatee Fire Rescue District in western Manatee County will notice an increase in the fire assessment rate when TRIM notices go out later this year, but it won’t be a big jump in cost.

District commissioners voted 4-1 to increase assessment rates for the 2021-22 fiscal year. The increase will be 4%, slightly less than the allowable increase of 5.64%.

WMFR gets most of its income from special assessment rates paid by property owners in the district. Since the assessments are non-ad valorem, they’re not based on a property’s taxable value. Instead, they are based on the size of the building on the property or set at a flat rate if the property is vacant.

The maximum percentage that the rate can be increased each year is based on personal income growth, or PIG. Though district leaders expected the 2021 number to be much lower, it came in at 6.8% for the state of Florida according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The maximum increase considered by WMFR commissioners during their April mid-year budget workshop was 5.64%.

What this means for district taxpayers, including all property owners on Anna Maria Island, in Cortez and the west side of unincorporated Manatee County, is that what you pay annually for fire service is increasing slightly on your next property tax bill.

A 4% increase will bring the residential property base rate up $7.82 to $203.35 with an increase for properties over 1,000 square feet of $0.0046 to $0.1199 per square foot. For a 2,000-square-foot home, this brings the total rate up from $310.85 to $323.28, a difference of $12.43. The rate for a 3,000-square-foot home would increase from $426.17 to $443.22 and from $541.50 to $563.16 for a 5,000-square-foot home.

Commercial property owners will notice an increase as well, with the commercial base rate increasing from $485.94 to $505.38 and the per-square-foot rate increasing from $0.2104 to $0.2188 for buildings over 1,000 square feet. The 4% increase brings the total rate for a 2,000-square-foot commercial property to $724.23 with a 3,000-square-foot building coming in at $943.08 and the rate for a 4,000-square-foot commercial building increasing to $1,161.92.

Commissioner Al Robinson was the lone vote against raising the assessment rate for the coming year. Robinson has previously been vocal about curbing the department’s spending and lessening the burden of the fire district on property owners.

Despite the increase in assessment rates, WMFR still has one of the lowest rates in Manatee County.

Commissioner David Bishop said the decision to vote whether or not to increase assessment rates is a difficult one. He warned his fellow commissioners that in looking to the future of the district they don’t get too far ahead for the taxpayer base. He said he feels the district could quickly reach a tipping point with costs and that they want to make sure that those costs don’t tip the wrong way, ending up too high to be sustainable.

“It’s a tough vote every year,” Bishop said.

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