The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff

Owner/CEO

Mike Field

Editor

Cindy Lane

General Manager

Bob Alexander

Reporters/Photographers

Joe Hendricks

Leslie Lake

Jason Schaffer

Kristin Swain

Columnists

Louise Bolger

Rusty Chinnis

Contributors

Joe Becht

Steve Borggren

Capt. Rick Grassett

Monica Simpson

Tom Vaught

Capt. Kevin Wessel

Capt. David White

Anne Yarbrough

Layout

Ricardo Fonseca

Digital Editor

Kristin Swain

Advertising Director

Shona Otto

Advertising Assistant

Pamela Lee

Classifieds

Bob Alexander

Graphics

Elaine Stroili

Ricardo Fonseca

Distribution

Bob Alexander

Connor Field

Tony McNulty

Brian Smith

Accounting

Leslie Ketchum

Co-founding publishers

Mike Field

Maggie McGinley Field

Family-owned since 2000

Letters To The Editor

What is AMI’s carrying capacity?

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under the Division of Recreation and Parks has the responsibility of planning the use and management of Florida's public lands and water areas. Governments are tasked with development and management strategies and plans for the quality of recreation experiences and protection of the natural areas which are directly affected by the implementation of the site plans, or land use plans. As we write our state legislators regarding the current hot topic of the “garage,” perhaps we should encourage a study using the DEP Carrying Capacity Guidelines.

Carrying capacity is the maximum population that can be sustained by a specific environment. Carrying capacity computations are vital to the planning of new use sites, alterations of existing use sites and continuous management of all areas of the system. To prevent overcrowding and resource deterioration, the collection of data is fundamental to assessment.

Carrying capacity for a given site governs the number of parking spaces, the size of restrooms and all quantities of support facilities to be provided. Surveys on tourists’ perspectives have shown that in addition to beach cleanliness, safety, information availability and habitat management, overcrowding is considered as a very significant criterion by potential tourists. Without becoming too technical, these are the broad capacities:

• Economic - maximum number of tourists that an area can support;

• Biophysical - damage to the natural environment exceeds the habitat's ability to regenerate;

• Social - Reduced visitor enjoyment and increased crime/indicators of when the social carrying capacity has been exceeded;

• Environmental - ecological and physical parameters, the capacity of resources, ecosystems and infrastructure.

Doug Lansky, an international tourism advisor, has a great YouTube video on tourism, “a new model for success in tourism that emphasizes sustainable growth, protecting local assets, and enhancing life for the locals while maximizing the local economic impact.”

The area of Anna Maria Island is less than a half of a percent of the total area of Manatee County. A $45 million parking garage for 1,500 is not a panacea. Encourage legislators to use smart and sensible planning strategies and studies for the benefit of residents, visitors, and the environment.

Margie Motzer Holmes Beach

When is it enough?

When do the builders and developers have enough money so that they will stop destroying what used to be a great place to live, Anna Maria Island?

When will there be enough monster homes built by overzealous investors right next to smaller homes where people raised their families and came to vacation for generations? When will there be enough residents forced to move because of the noise of traffic or the unending disturbance of two, three or four families suddenly living next door, but moving in and out every week? The once-family homes that were razed and replaced with buildings that accommodate three, four and five families are mini-hotels, not homes.

When will there be enough gold lining the pockets of builders, investors and developers who are turning an unpolished gem into Clearwater, St. Pete or Fort Lauderdale? We need to wake up and see the destruction of the lifestyle we all thought we had on Anna Maria Island.

Sean Murphy is right – the issue is not parking; the issue is traffic! Why not have an engineering company perform a traffic impact analysis?

Who is going to pay for the proposed parking garages on the island? Will visitors then have to pay to park when visiting our free beaches?

FROM PAGE 6

Beachgoers could park in the two virtually empty parking deck garages in downtown Bradenton. The county can lease, on a seasonal basis, interstate/Greyhound-type buses that have plenty of storage for beachgoers’ chairs, etc. They can run every 20 minutes, significantly reducing congestion. This would eliminate idling cars either stuck in traffic or moving so slowly due to traffic that air pollution is increased, valuable fuel resources are wasted, and frustration and anger and angst are created – let us not forget people who LIVE on the island.

Residents cannot go out to shop, go out to eat, or leave the Island to go to church unless they spend hours in traffic for what used to be a 10-minute drive. Have you ever walked on the Island’s sidewalks in season while cars spew carbon monoxide in your face?

The fellow Holmes Beach resident who wrote, “We only have so much space; apply the math…” was so right.

It is painfully clear that parking isn’t the real issue – the true motive behind this is development and profit.

Stop the madness!

Last, but not least, the county commissioners and the FDOT should build a bridge to Longboat Key which would alleviate the Gulf Drive/Cortez traffic nightmare.

On The Agenda

ANNA MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information.

March 9, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting

March 21, 9 a.m. – Planning and Zoning Board meeting

March 23, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting

BRADENTON BEACH

107 GULF DRIVE N.

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005

Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information.

March 15, 10 a.m. – Department Head meeting

March 15, 1 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting

March 16, noon – City Commission meeting

March 21, 9:30 a.m. – City Commission work session

HOLMES BEACH

5801 MARINA DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800

Please visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information.

March 8, 10 a.m. – Clean Water Ad-hoc Committee meeting

March 14, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow

March 28, 10 a.m. – Code Compliance special magistrate hearing

March 28, 5 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow

ISLAND-WIDE

March 13, 2 p.m. – Island Transportation Planning Organization meeting, Holmes Beach City Hall

Events

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8

Creative Aging: Watercolors, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Off Stage Ladies meeting, Cipriano Cucina and Bar, 3561 53rd Ave. W., Bradenton, 11:30 a.m.

Mah-jongg for beginners, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

Island Time Book Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 9

AMI Chamber Member Luncheon, Annie’s Bait and Tackle, 4334 127th St. W., Cortez, $22 for members or $30 for non-members

Friends of the Island Library Jewelry Sale, members pre-sale, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 3 p.m. Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

FRIDAY, MARCH 10

Explore Nature: Tower Talks, Robinson Preserve, observation tower, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m.

Friends of the Island Library Jewelry Sale, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m.

ArtWalk, Holmes Beach city center, intersection of Marina and Gulf drives, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 7 a.m. Pancake breakfast, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 8-11 a.m., $8 per person, children under 5 eat free Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon

Friends of the Island Library Jewelry Sale, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, 11 a.m.

MONDAY, MARCH 13

Animal Encounter: baby alligator, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

TUESDAY, MARCH 14

Farmer’s Market, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. STEM Show for Kids, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Heritage Day Festival, Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.