Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Another Reimagining Pine Avenue decision looms

For full article:

https://www.amisun.com/2024/04/08/an...ecision-looms/

ANNA MARIA – For the fourth time, commissioners will soon be asked to accept or reject a Reimagining Pine Avenue bid proposal submitted by the C-Squared construction company.

On March 25, City Clerk LeAnne Addy opened the only bid received in response to the city’s fourth request for proposals (RFP) since 2022. Despite being previously rejected three times, Sarasota-based C-Squared CGC Inc. again submitted the only bid.

The RFP sought proposals to construct a one-block Reimagin*ing Pine Avenue prototype between Gulf Drive and North Shore Drive. The proposed prototype area would include the same safety improvements desired along the entirety of Pine Avenue – brick paver sidewalks along both sides of the street, new crosswalks and new streetlights.

[wondermint2]

Dietrich home demolished

For full article & photos:

https://www.amisun.com/2024/04/08/di...me-demolished/

Like so many others on Anna Maria Island, the ground-level house at 101 Mangrove Ave. that long served as home to the late Jack and Betty Deitrich and their family has been demolished.

The demolition took place March 25-27.

Jack, a former principal at Anna Maria Elementary School, passed away in August 2022 at the age of 92. Betty passed away in February 2010. Betty’s father built the home in 1925 and it was renovated and expanded over the years. The property is located at the beach end of the street, near a beach access point.

[wondermint2]

Marina clients face inclusion in canal lawsuit

For full article:

https://www.amisun.com/2024/04/08/ma...canal-lawsuit/

Cortez Village Marina clients who use the privately-owned Hunters Point canal may soon be named as additional defendants in a 2022 canal dispute-related lawsuit.

The Sun recently obtained a letter sent to a marina client. The letter was written by attorney Susan Martin, who represents Hunters Point developer Marshall Gobuty’s Cortez Road Invest*ments and Finance (CRIF) ownership group. When completed, the Hunters Point development will include 86 solar-powered homes.

[wondermint2]

Commissioners deny paid parking lot

For full article:

https://www.amisun.com/2024/04/08/co...d-parking-lot/

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners denied an application for a temporary use paid parking lot at 2509 Gulf Drive N. at their April 4 meeting.

The application, which stated the property was in an R-2 (residential) zone, was submitted by Rick Munroe, of Sarasota-based Palm Parking, on behalf of property owner Mark Toomey for a 19-space paid parking facility.

[wondermint2]

Property owners seek stop to kayak tours

For full article:

https://www.amisun.com/2024/04/08/pr...o-kayak-tours/

HOLMES BEACH – Residents Roger and Irene Alvarez are hoping for help from the legal system to prevent kayaking clients from Fun Florida Tours from trespassing on their property and causing what they call a nuisance.

In a complaint filed on March 29 in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Manatee County, the couple alleges that tours conducted by the company, which occur daily about every 1.5 hours from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., are causing irreparable harm to their quality of life and damaging their property.

[wondermint2]

Disputed, then approved beach home being built

For full article:

https://www.amisun.com/2024/04/08/di...e-being-built/

ANNA MARIA – Construction is well underway on Fedora Campbell’s new beachfront home at 105 Elm Ave.

Campell’s new home is being built in front of and seaward of the neighboring home at 107 Elm Ave. formerly owned by Wendy and Robert Jordan’s North Carolina-based WAJ Rustic Vacations LLC.

In April 2021, the Jordans purchased the $4 million beachfront home and property at 107 Elm that at the time offered a mostly unobstructed view of the beach and the Gulf of Mexico.

A few months later, after learning of Campbell’s plans to build a new beachfront home in front of their home, the Jordans launched a much-publicized, but ultimately unsuccessful, Preserve AMI opposition campaign that included a website and an online petition drive.

The website and petition drive opposed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) ruling that allowed for Campbell’s new home to be built seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line, on a property that currently had no direct street access to Elm Avenue because the street ended at 107 Elm.

[wondermint2]

Manatee’s February tourist tax tops $3.29 million

For full article:

https://www.islander.org/2024/04/man...-3-29-million/

The shortest month delivered big dollars for tourism.

The Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office April 1 released February collection numbers for the tourist development or bed tax — the 5% tax collected on overnight accommodations of six months or less.

The month generated $3,290,496 in tax revenues.

The amount is 2.23% higher than the $3,218,684 collected in February 2023. Also, February 2024 is the first month of the 2023-24 fiscal year logging an increase over 2022-23.

Holmes Beach topped collections on Anna Maria Island in February, generating $713,049, about 21.67% of the countywide total.

Anna Maria accounted for about 11.68% of collections, bringing in $384,275, and Bradenton Beach generated $159,866 or 4.86%.

Some other numbers for February:

- Unincorporated Manatee County generated $1,373,059 or 41.73%;
- Bradenton generated $348,927 or 10.6%;
- Longboat Key generated $301,529 or 9.16%;
- Palmetto generated $9,828 or 0.3%.

[wondermint2]

Live roaches, rodent droppings, sewage temporarily close Sarasota area restaurants

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/oth...ts/ar-BB1ljMK2

Sarasota/Manatee restaurant inspections for March 31-April 6.

[wondermint2]

BB CRA greenlights Bridge Street $50K coconuts project

For full article:

https://www.islander.org/2024/04/bb-...onuts-project/

It looks like Bridge Street is going coconuts.

The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency voted April 3 to enhance Bridge Street with more than 80 coconut palms among the street’s landscape easements.

The CRA is chaired by Commissioner Ralph Cole and includes Mayor John Chappie, city commissioners and business owner Ed Chiles. A citizen seat is vacant.

The agency oversees projects using tax dollars in the district which is bordered by Cortez Road, Sarasota Bay, Fifth Street South and the Gulf of Mexico.

CRA members discussed a $50,000 landscaping proposal on April 3 from city attorney Ricinda Perry.

The agreement with M&F Landscape of Bradenton will redefine the streetscape, incorporating white river rock, 50 large and 30 small coconut palms, bike racks and upgraded trash receptacles.

Perry said M&F Landscape, the vendor, will oversee the plantings.

However, she said the continuing maintenance of the palms will be entrusted to developer Shawn Kaleta, who pledged to indemnify the city against any liabilities arising from the trees or falling coconuts.

A similar agreement exists with Anna Maria Oyster Bar, which has CRA approval for coconut palms at the Historic Bridge Street Pier.

[wondermint2]

No demo permit, no solid plans, treehouse remains in HB

For full article:

https://www.islander.org/2024/04/no-...remains-in-hb/

Time is winding down for a long-disputed treehouse in Holmes Beach to be demolished.

The city had not received a permit application for the demolition of a treehouse at the Angelinos Sea Lodge, 2818 Ave. E, as of April 4, according to building department administrator Madison Brown.

Judge Edward Nicholas of the 12th Circuit Court ruled Feb. 28 that the treehouse must be removed within 90 days of his order, leaving property owners Richard Hazen and wife Lynn Tran-Hazen until July 3 to demolish the structure.

If they fail to remove the treehouse by then, the city can remove it at the expense of the owners after providing at least 72 hours’ notice.

Tran-Hazen wrote in a March 29 email to The Islander that they were in the process of preparing a demo application.

She said she was set to meet with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to clear the way to apply for a city demolition permit and has been in touch with contractors who can quote the removal work.