Lizzie & Mike Thrasher have been ‘busted’ for exceeding Anna Maria’s 37 foot height limitation code with the remodel of their Anna Maria residence at 525 Seagull Way. Their cupola/ tower part was too high.
The Thrashers also allowed one of their residential rental houses, called the Honeyfish House, at 335 Tarpon Street to be used for a ‘Wedding Festival General Meeting’ on June 8th. The Anna Maria Chamber of Commerce sent an email on May 29th to ‘Chamber Members’ which, among other things, notified the members of the date and location of the business meeting.
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Saturday, June 13, 2009
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Lizzie & Michael Thrasher purchased their Anna Maria home (not homesteaded) on 525 Seagull Way in July 2007, according to Manatee County Property Appraiser records. The records also show an October 2008 permit for a new second floor addition and master bath remodel. When the Thrashers built their addition they topped it off with a cupola/ tower structure. The May 27th issue of the Islander, page 12, printed a picture of the house with the caption, “Following an anonymous complaint, Anna Maria code enforcement officer Gerry Rathvon has requested a survey to determine the height of this house at 525 Seagull Lane. City code limits height of construction to 37 feet above the crown of the road. Islander Photo: Rick Catlin”
ReplyDeleteIn the public read file there is a letter dated May25, 2009 from Stephen J. Kring of Steve Kring Construction Company, 420 Pine Avenue, addressed to Code Enforcement Officer, Gerry Rathvon, and Building Official, Bob Welch, which says:
“Dear Ms. Ruthven & Mr. Welch:
RE: Tower @ 525 Seagull, Anna Maria, FL 34216
We have received the survey showing that the tower that was allegedly too high, actually is-by 3 ft.
The owners and I have developed a plan to remedy the situation by removing the current roof structure (3 ft.) and installing an arbor on the then protruding posts.
We have scheduled this change to happen on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, weather permitting. Upon resetting the arbor section, we will have the new structure verified at 37 ft. or less, as is currently required.
Sincerely,
Stephen J. Kring”
As of June 12th, the ‘tower’s roof, which made the building too tall by 3 feet, has been removed. The new arbor section has not been installed.
I’d like to thank the anonymous complaint submitter, Bob Welch and Gerry Rathvon for taking care of this. Our city’s 37 foot height limitation is just one of the many things that keep our City so special.
On the issue of the Thrashers having a wedding industry business meeting at their 335 Tarpon Street rental property - this does not appear to be an appropriate activity under the city’s residential district use regulations. Some home occupation business activities are permitted as an accessory use in residences but the business activity must be carried on by a member of the immediate family residing on the premises, etc. The Thrasher’s do not reside at 335 Tarpon Street; it’s one of their many rental properties. The Chamber of Commerce notified all Chamber Members about the wedding business meeting and ended the email with “Thank you for your time and see you at the next Wedding Festival General Meeting, Monday, June 8th, at Honeyfish House is 335 Tarpon Way, Anna Maria, 34216 Sincerely, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce”.
I don’t think that this is this an appropriate use in a residential neighborhood, do you?