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VOL 17 No. 1
October 19, 2016
Board rejects Gloria Dei rezone proposal Commissioners expressed concerns about a rezone to R-2, which they felt would encourage rentals. BY PAT COPELAND SUN STAFF WRITER | pcopeland@amisun.com MAGGIE field | SUN
HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners last week rejected a motion to approve a comprehensive plan change that would have allowed Gloria Dei Lutheran Church to rezone part of its property from PSP (public/semi public) to R-2 or medium density residential. City commissioners expressed concerns about a change to R-2, which they felt would encourage rental structures. The R-2 zoning would have allowed for four to five duplex structures. City Planner Bill Brisson opened the public hearing by stating that both medium and low density residential (R-1) are appropriate uses for see gloria dei, page 28
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Top photo, Sheri Nadelman, lead singer for the band soulRcoaster, walks among a host of dancing fans at Bayfest Saturday afternoon. Above, a classic 1954 Hudson was one of the 127 vintage cars on display at the festival.
Bayfest opens festival season
The new configuration packed more people onto Pine Avenue and off of Anna Maria City Pier Park. BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.som
ANNA MARIA – For the past 16 years, Bayfest has welcomed in
INSIDE NEWS OPINION Sun survey wedding section outdoors sports REAL ESTATE town crier
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what we call our season, where the Island grows with seasonal visitors (snowbirds) and tourists. It also usually heralds cooler temperatures, although not always. Last Saturday’s event had hundreds, if not thousands, of visitors enjoying the music, food, refreshments, vendors and classic cars in see bayfest, page 3
There will be plenty
of haunting for Island kids at the AME Fall Festival on Saturday. 13
Anna Maria Island, Florida
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Race Russo, gets a kick out of the humorous signs for sale at Bayfest.
AMI in line for resort tax funds BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com
Up to $140,000 in resort tax funds could be allocated for day dock improvements and red tide cleanup if the Manatee County Commission approves recommendations made Monday by the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC). Elliott Falcione, director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), requested that up to $125,000 be reimbursed to the City of Bradenton Beach to replace the damaged floating dock at the Bridge Street Pier, and up to $15,000 be reimbursed to the county’s beach maintenance fund to replace money spent on red tide cleanup over the past two months. The TDC approved both requests for consideration by the county commission. Falcione complimented the county parks department for getting more people and equipment on the Island’s beaches the past few weeks to clean up dead fish killed see TDC, page 31
Get back in the pool! Play The Sun’s Football Fever game. 26-27
County officials pitch the half-cent sales tax increase. 5
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