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4THE SUN ISLAND NEWS

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IN BRIEF

Campaign for Ukraine needs raffle prizes

Raffle prizes are needed for the AMI Rotary Foundation and Slicker’s Eatery Campaign for Ukraine to support Ukrainians in need. Through fundraising efforts, partnerships and a community gathering for peace on Sunday, June 12 from 4-8 p.m. at The Center of AMI, they hope to stand in solidarity with and support the people of Ukraine. To offer a raffle prize or get information on sponsorship opportunities, call Katy Demick at 941-524-5769. Donations to help the Ukrainian people can be dropped off at Tortuga Inn Beach Resort at 1325 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach.

Speed tables, right of way permit on agenda

The Anna Maria City Commission will meet on Thursday, June 9 at 2 p.m. After general public comment on items not included on the meeting agenda, the commission will conduct a public hearing regarding the right of way use permit sought to construct a new home on a vacant beachfront property at 105 Elm Ave. The city attorney will present the first reading of an alcoholic beverages ordinance, followed by the mayor’s update on the status of the South Bay Boulevard speed tables. Thursday’s meeting can be attended in person or remotely by calling 1-929-205-6099 and entering the meeting ID: 85392000280.

AME parking open on Fourth of July weekend

Beach parking will be allowed at Anna Maria Elementary School, 4700 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach for the busy July 2-4 holiday weekend. Parking will only be available dawn to dusk, and all parking rules will be enforced. Parking will fill up quickly, so city officials recommend arriving early to get a legal parking space.

AMI Chamber to host luncheon

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce will host a luncheon Thursday, June 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bunny and Pirates, 12404 Cortez Road W. Anyone wishing to attend this networking event can RSVP to becky@amichamber.org or call 941-778-1541. Bring business cards and consider bringing a raffle prize to add to the fun. Your business will be announced when prizes are given away.

Rezoning would allow residential units above commercial

The proposed rezoning cannot take place without city commission approval.

BY JOE HENDRICKS

SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The city is considering rezoning several residential properties between Second Street North and Cortez Road from multi-family residential to mixed use.

Building Official Steve Gilbert said the proposed rezoning would impact about two-thirds of the properties from Highland Avenue west to Gulf Drive, and from Second Street North to Cortez Road.

On June 15, the Planning and Zoning Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed rezoning of those properties at city hall at 1 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, with public input accepted.

The hearing will be followed by a public hearing before the city commission on Thursday, July 21. The proposed rezoning to be discussed at these hearings would require city commission approval.

Public notices were mailed to all property owners whose properties could potentially be rezoned. Notices were also sent to all property owners located within 300 feet of the properties proposed for rezoning. The notice references lot numbers but not specific addresses and includes a map that indicates where the potentiallyimpacted properties are located.

“If your lot is inside the dotted line, those are the properties affected. It’s not changing anything other than those 20 to 30 lots listed on the notice,” Gilbert told The Sun.

The properties currently have multi-family residential (R-3) zoning designations that allow up to 18 residential units per acre, he said.

“This is first step in getting our Zoning Map to be consistent with the Future Land Use Map that was adopted in 2008 when the comprehensive plan was revised. It’s taken this long to get to the point where we’re starting down the road of making our zoning map consistent with the Future Land Use Map,” Gilbert said.

“Back in 2008, when the city adopted the 2020 comprehensive plan, the Future Land Use Map set all of those lots aside to be retail/office/residential. You could have a little store, a pizzeria or a lawyer’s office on the ground level with residential above. Back when they were talking about this stuff, they wanted to make the downtown area a walkable community. How do we do that? We put mom and pop shops on the ground and somebody can live upstairs or rent a place upstairs. You don’t need to bring your car to go to Bridge Street. You can go downstairs and get a bite to eat and go back upstairs if you want. Currently those properties are all multi-family residential, and commercial and retail uses are not allowed,” Gilbert said.

The proposed rezoning from R-3 to Mixed Use would give property owners choices.

“It allows for the stand-alone residential use to continue in this district, even a new residential structure built according to FEMA’s flood plain and elevation requirements. Nobody’s losing the right to continue that use, but if you had a ground-level structure you’d have to rebuild with an elevated structure. There’s no way around that with FEMA,” Gilbert said.

“The developer could do a single-family dwelling or do what the Mixed Use zone district contemplates: A small commercial space on the ground, parking in the front, side or back and two stories of residential units upstairs. The alternate scenario is a developer buys four lots with old houses on them, tears all four houses down and can now do a storefront with multi-family residential units upstairs,” Gilbert said.

“There’s no impact to existing uses and existing owners. They can continue to use their property as is. Within the limits of the land development code, they can still renovate, repair or remodel their homes. There’s nothing prohibiting them from the continued use of the property as it currently sits and nothing takes this away as long as they own the property. And it should not affect resale values because the Mixed Use zoning gives the buyer more flexibility in whatever fashion best suits their investment needs or the return on their investment,” Gilbert said.

“If anybody has questions about how their property might be impacted, I encourage you to call the building department at 941-778-1005, ext. 210, and ask for Steve or Luis; or send an email to stevegilbert@cityofbradentonbeach.com. We’ll be happy to help you out,” Gilbert said.

CITY OF BRADENTON BEACH | SUBMITTED The properties located within the dotted lines on this map could potentially be rezoned from multi-family residential to mixed use.

Candidate deadline next week for city offices

Island-wide, eight mayoral and city commission seats will be filled after city elections this fall.

BY JOE HENDRICKS

SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Candidates seeking elected office in Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach have until June 17 to qualify.

ANNA MARIA

In Anna Maria, the two-week qualifying period began at noon on Monday, June 6 and ends at noon on Friday, June 17. The mayor’s seat currently held by Dan Murphy and the city commission seats currently held by Deanie Sebring and Mark Short will be filled after the Anna Maria city elections conclude on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Murphy, Sebring and Short each told The Sun they will seek re-election.

According to City Clerk LeAnne Addy, any qualified voter of the city, as defined by Florida law, is eligible to hold the office of city commissioner or mayor if the candidate has resided in Anna Maria for at least two years immediately prior to qualifying for office. A member of the city commission cannot hold any other municipal office with the city or be employed by the city during his or her term of office.

Qualifying packets can be picked up at Anna Maria City Hall or at the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office in Bradenton.

BRADENTON BEACH

In Bradenton Beach, the one-week qualifying period begins at noon on Monday, June 13 and ends at noon on Friday, June 17.

According to City Clerk Terri Sanclemente, candidates must be registered voters and have resided in Bradenton Beach for at least 12 months prior to qualifying. Qualifying packets can be picked up at Bradenton Beach City Hall or the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office.

The Ward 2 seat currently held by Commissioner Marilyn Maro and the Ward 4 seat currently held by Commissioner Ralph Cole will be decided in the upcoming Bradenton Beach elections.

According to Sanclemente, Cole has picked up his packet and will seek reelection.

Maro will reach the end of her term after the November elections, but if city voters, during the same election, eliminate the existing term limits contained in the city charter, Maro could continue to serve if she runs and wins. When asked last week if she intends to run again, Maro said she was still thinking about it.

HOLMES BEACH

In Holmes Beach, the one-week qualifying period opens at noon on Monday, June 13 and closes at noon on Friday, June 17.

According to City Clerk Stacey Johnston, candidates must be a U.S. citizen, a registered voter in Manatee County and a Holmes Beach resident for at least two years prior to qualifying for office. Qualifying packets can be picked up at Holmes Beach City Hall or at the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office.

The mayor’s seat currently held by Judy Titsworth and the city commission seats currently held by Jayne Christenson and Kim Rash will be decided in the upcoming Holmes Beach elections. Titsworth and Christenson told The Sun they will seek re-election, and Titsworth, Christenson and non-incumbent candidate Greg Kerchner have already filed their preliminary campaign paperwork with the Supervisor of Elections Office, including the appointment of their campaign treasurers.