13 minute read
rezoning reconsidered
4THE SUN ISLAND NEWS
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NOVEMBER 30, 2022
IN BRIEF
MANATEE COUNTY | SUBMITTED From left, the Manatee County Commission consists of Mike Rahn, Amanda Ballard, James Satcher, Kevin Van Ostenbridge, Jason Bearden, Vanessa Baugh and George Kruse.
New county commissioners take office
On Nov. 22, Amanda Ballard, Mike Rahn and Jason Bearden were sworn into office as Manatee County’s new county commissioners. Bearden assumed the At-Large District 6 commission seat long held by Holmes Beach resident Carol Whitmore. Rahn assumed the District 4 seat previously held by Misty Servia. Ballard assumed the District 2 seat formerly held by Reggie Bellamy. The commission also includes incumbent commissioners Vanessa Baugh, George Kruse, James Satcher and Kevin Van Ostenbridge. The newly configured commission held its first regularly scheduled meeting on Nov. 29.
Candy cane-making demonstrations planned
The Fudge Factory will be doing its part to kick off the holiday season with the return of its candy canemaking demonstrations. Visitors will see the process of making candy canes from scratch from beginning to end, a process dating back more than 100 years. The demonstrations will be held on Friday, Dec. 2, Saturday, Dec. 3, Saturday, Dec. 10 and Friday, Dec. 16 at the Fudge Factory, 117 Bridge St. in Bradenton Beach. Shows start at 6:30 p.m., but due to limited viewing space, it is a good idea to arrive early.
Lester Family Fun Day comes to Center
The 20th Annual Lester Family Fun Day returns to The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a lineup of fun activities and performances including the Manatee High School Drum Line and DJ Freeze. There will be food, poinsettias to buy, pony rides, face painting, crafts, a train and more. Santa will arrive at noon to greet visitors and see who’s been naughty and nice. Food includes Duffy’s burgers, hot dogs, and Small Town Creamery Ice Cream. Enter a chance to win a turkey or other prizes. There will also be a 50/50 golf ball drop from a helicopter at 2 p.m. Balls are $50 for one or $100 for three. The first ball in the hole wins. The event is sponsored each year by Chuck and Joey Lester of Holmes Beach.
Past actions could impact Azure Shores land use designations
City officials are trying to ensure that the city’s zoning and future land use designations are consistent with one another.
BY JOE HENDRICKS
SUN CORREPSONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – The city’s efforts to rezone and/or amend the future land use map designations for several residential properties in the Azure Shores subdivision may not be needed after all.
The Azure Shores subdivision includes 23 properties located north of Bridge Street, south of the Cortez Bridge and east of Gulf Drive South.
During the Nov. 16 Planning and Zoning Board meeting, Building Official Steve Gilbert shared some recent discoveries he made when reviewing past city commission actions from the 1980s and the 2000s.
Gilbert’s discoveries may impact how the commission proceeds with its efforts to make the Azure Shores zoning designations and future land use map designations consistent with one another.
The Azure Shores discussions are part of the city’s ongoing efforts to address numerous inconsistencies that exist between the various zoning designations and future land use map designations that apply to numerous properties throughout the city. If left unaddressed, the existing inconsistencies could potentially subject the city to permitting challenges and/ or legal action.
The zoning and future land use map designations determine what kind of development is allowed on a specific property. Changes to those designations could negatively or positively impact the ability to develop a property and/or the value of a property.
PAST ACTIONS
On Oct. 20, the city commission rejected the proposed rezoning ordinance that contained Gilbert and City Planner Luis Serna’s recommendation to rezone the Azure Shores properties from their current Multiple Family Dwelling District (R-3) zoning designation to a Mixed-Use District (MXD) zoning designation, while maintaining the Retail/Office/Residential (ROR) future land use map designation adopted by a previous city commission in 2008.
City staff’s proposed rezoning would have allowed groundlevel retail and office space with residential units above, but the commission has demonstrated its desire to protect that area’s existing residential character.
The commission also rejected the Planning and Zoning Board’s recommendation to instead rezone those properties to R-2 (two-family dwelling) and change the future land use map designation to Medium Density Residential.
City Attorney Ricinda Perry advised the commission that downzoning those properties from R-3 to R-2 could negatively impact allowed uses and property values for those properties.
The commission directed Gilbert and Serna to continue working with the Planning and Zoning Board and the potentially impacted property owners to find a way to cure the existing inconsistencies.
During the Oct. 20 meeting, Chiles Hospitality Facilities Director Brooks O’Hara mentioned the BeachHouse restaurant ownership group’s desire to create a designated parking lot on the Chiles Hospitality-owned vacant lot at the corner of Third Street North and Highland Avenue.
Depending on how the existing zoning and land use designations are interpreted, the R-3 zoning designation may not allow for a standalone parking lot on a residentially zoned property that’s not physically contiguous to the other Chiles Hospitality-owned properties in that vicinity.
RECENT DISCOVERIES
During the Nov. 16 Planning and Zoning Board meeting, Gilbert said he reviewed a copy of the city’s 1989 comprehensive plan. At that time, the Azure Shores subdivision had the ROR future land use map designation with the R-3 zoning designation that remains in effect today. Going back farther, Gilbert said the zoning code that existed in 1983 allowed hotels, motels, coffee shops and restaurants in R-3 zoned districts.
“Somebody, in 1989, intentionally said ROR and R-3 high-density residential are consistent. At least from ‘83 to ‘89, the argument would be reasonably consistent,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert said the ROR future land use designation does not have an assigned dwelling unit density limit, whereas the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zoning designations do have density limits.
“You could make the argument today that R-3 zoning on top of ROR land use could be considered consistent. At the end of the day, it comes down to what the city commission wants,” Gilbert said.
“It’s 2022. The 2020 comprehensive plan was adopted in 2008 and
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Building Official Steve Gilbert recently shared his latest discoveries with Planning and Zoning Board members.
Steve Gilbert, Bradenton Beach building official
As customers await news of the Coquina Beach Market’s reopening, its former director prepares to open a new market off Anna Maria Island.
BY LESLIE LAKE
SUN CORRESPONDENT | leslielake@aol.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Followers of the “Where is the Market?” Facebook page are anxiously awaiting what appears to be an imminent announcement of a new venue.
“I will be thankful at Thanksgiving that our market family will be together soon. However, because of the holiday I cannot get the needed paperwork until the 29th as people are on vacation,” Nancy Ambrose wrote on the page Nov. 18. “So the Sunday market will not start on Dec. 4 as there would not be enough time to market it. I am planning on Dec. 11. Cannot wait to see everyone.”
Ambrose, who was the director of the Coquina Beach Market for the past decade, was ousted by Manatee County officials who announced in August that the county was taking over operations of the beach market.
The Aug. 2 press release from Manatee County Information Director Bill Logan stated in part, “Artisans and other vendors will be back along the Coquina Beach South promenade, once again, when the 2022-23 season opens in November as oversight for the market shifts to Manatee County.”
Logan declined to give a reason for Ambrose’s termination and said by email on Aug. 5, “I do not have any further information why the contract was terminated.”
In October, county officials announced a delay to the projected Nov. 1 opening of the county-run market due to Hurricane Ian having impacted preparations.
“As crews have been deployed around the county to clean up and repair other parks properties, the site prep and rehab work to get the new site (further south on Coquina Beach) ready have been put on hold temporarily,” according to the county website. “The official opening date has been delayed from the originally planned Nov. 1.”
The county has not estimated its beach market opening date.
Ambrose indicated that her new Sunday market will not be on Anna Maria Island and that she would not be making any further announcements until arrangements are finalized. She also wrote that she is looking in another county for a possible Wednesday market.
Her Facebook page, “Where is the Market?” has over 2,000 members, some of whom are vendors who have worked with her and who are hopeful that they will soon have a new venue to sell their products.
Vendor Venita Clark wrote, “I think Nancy needs to have her own booth set up so everyone could stop by and give her the big hug she deserves for working so hard for all of us!”
Live like a local Respect Wildlife
Eastern screech owl
Please look for nests before you trim a tree; you could knock a baby bird out of its home.
Anna Maria Island Sun ~~~~~~~~~ Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
6THE SUN OPINION The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff
Owner/CEO Mike Field
Editor Cindy Lane
General Manager Bob Alexander
Reporters/Photographers Joe Hendricks Jason Schaffer Kristin Swain
Columnists Louise Bolger Rusty Chinnis
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3909 East Bay Drive, Suite 210, Holmes Beach, FL, 34217 Phone: (941) 778-3986 email: news@amisun.com | ads@amisun.com | classifieds@amisun.com Like us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AnnaMariaIslandSun
NOVEMBER 30, 2022
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
A bone for every dog
I would like to thank The Sun for placing two articles in their paper for donations of Nylabones for the dogs at the county shelter.
We have gotten some wonderful donations from residents all over Manatee County. Their donations have made it possible to supply every dog with a bone.
I will continue to work with Chewy and some other vendors to get much-needed supplies – beds, bones and high-value training treats. We can never have enough because we keep getting new dogs.
The shelters are full and could use help walking the dogs. If anyone has time and would like to take a pup for a stroll around the facility it would be greatly appreciated. They need to get out to exercise and volunteers are in short supply.
I’ll keep updating everyone on what we are buying and show pictures of the very grateful pups.
Renee Ferguson Holmes Beach
Drop us a line
Got an opinion, a complaint or a compliment? Is there something you need to get off your chest? Send us a letter to the editor and have your say. There are a couple of ways to do it. The easiest and most direct is to email The Sun at news@amisun.com. Remember to put Letter to the Editor in the subject field. Or you can snail-mail a letter to us at The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O. Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216. Letters should be kept to 300 words or less and must contain your name and the city in which you reside. Personal attacks and obscene language will not be printed. The Sun reserves the right to edit letters for length or content.
ANNA MARIA
10005 GULF DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130 Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information. Dec. 15, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting Dec. 23, all day – City offices closed, Christmas holiday Dec. 26, all day – City offices closed, Christmas holiday
BRADENTON BEACH
107 GULF DRIVE N. FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005 Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach. com or contact city hall for more information. Dec. 1, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting Dec. 7, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting Dec. 7, 2 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting Dec. 15, noon – City Commission meeting Dec. 21, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning Board meeting Dec. 23, all day – City offices closed, Christmas holiday Dec. 26, all day – City offices closed, Christmas holiday
HOLMES BEACH
5801 MARINA DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800 Please visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information. Dec. 7, 10 a.m. – Parks and Beautification Committee meeting Dec. 7, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting Dec. 13, 5 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow Dec. 14, 9 a.m. – Clean Water Ad-Hoc Committee meeting Dec. 23, all day – City offices closed, Christmas holiday Dec. 26, all day – City offices closed, Christmas holiday
EVENTS
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30
Aging Series: Caregiving, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Mah-jongg for beginners, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.
THURSDAY, DEC. 1
Importance of Local Fisheries and Seafood Production, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m. Sunshine Stitchers knit and crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m. Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m. Teen yoga, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6 p.m.
FRIDAY, DEC. 2
Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Mah-jongg Club – Experienced Players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m. Paper crafting, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m. Holmes Beach Holiday Open House, Marina and Gulf drives, Holmes Beach, 5-7 p.m. AMI Chamber tree lighting, 5325 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, DEC. 3
Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 8 a.m. Saturday mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon. Looking for Ithaca, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 10 a.m. Ask a Master Gardener, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Saturday storytime, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Lester Family Fun Day, The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Santa arrives at noon. Mistletoe Market, city field, 5901 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Holly Berry Market, Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hike with a librarian, Perico Preserve, 11700 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, 10 a.m.
