PAR’s Interest in the ‘Angler’s Lodge’ – Expanding Commercial into the Residential District?

The Sun (June 24th) reported that the Anna Maria Island Preservation Trust (AMIPT), with support from the Pine Avenue Restoration (PAR) partners would be working to raise money to purchase and restore a building they refer to as the Angler’s Lodge or Angler’s Inn. That building is located in a residential neighborhood at 117 North Bay Blvd. at the corner of Lakeview Drive near the humpback bridge.

Future City meeting agendas should be watched to see if Sissy Quinn will be presenting something re: AMIPT’s pursuit of preservation grant money to ‘restore’ the building at 117 North Bay Blvd.

One big question is if the AMIPT secures ‘preservation’ grant money and PAR acquires the property, how would the PAR partners want to use this Residential property? The Sun printed that Quinn of the AMIPT “said she’s not sure what the building would be used for if the campaign were successful – perhaps as a sort of community building for receptions and other events.”

Wait a minute! The building is a single family residential house on a residentially zoned 3 lot parcel. What is this talk about using a residential house for receptions and other events? The 117 N. Bay Blvd. property is large - 171 ft by 110 feet. Would they also want to use the property for parking?

The neighboring residents should be on guard!

To read more on this issue, click on the word ‘comments’…

A reply to Our Mayor and her concerns over our blog

The Mayor responded to my letter to the editor that appeared in The Sun of June 24. Here is my reply. (Her comments are indented).

Mayor Barford:

As promised, I'm responding to yours of June 17, in response to my letter to the editor. I've excerpted portions for brevity.

On Jun 17, 2009, at 10:02 AM, Fran Barford wrote:

  The City of Anna Maria was not involved in encouraging or suggesting he [Coleman] apply for a P&Z position.

I never said nor meant to imply that. I said it is highly probable that you (not the city of Anna Maria) would appoint Coleman, subject to commission approval, given the fact that you signed for him. Instead of arguing over that, let's consider the real question on everyone's mind: Do you or do you not agree that his appointment is the best interest of the city? Especially in view of one clear and undeniable fact: Mike Coleman is a developer and practically every discussion or vote the P&Z board undertakes would require recusal under Florida Statute 112.313  Standards of conduct for public officers, employees of agencies, and local government attorneys.. And, that being the case, what good is his presence there? 

With all due respect, Duke, I wish you could find something positive to focus on to help the City and give us some encouragement as we try to move the city forward.

What you're saying is anyone who disagrees with you, or the direction one perceives the city going, is negative. I disagree. In this instance, one person's negative is another's positive: Many who have a history here find it POSITIVE to protect what we've got in Anna Maria. You, during your campaign stated that if you become mayor your "Job #1 will be to keep Anna Maria Anna Maria." That's positive to Anna Marians; anathema to a developer! (Maybe it would help us all if you share what you mean by "forward?") 

I wanted to also share my concern about your blog and city residents who are approved participants.  Anyone who serves on a board/committee or a commissioner who receives information or contributes and then must vote on an issue, may have to declare their participation on the blog.  I am certain you already know this but our attorney has rendered his opinion on this too.

Are you also concerned about printed "blogs" like The Islander? The Sun? The Bradenton Herald?  What about "city residents or elected officials who are approved (by the editors) as participants" via letters to the editor or guest editorials?  

Let us turn the tables on your concerns: Are you concerned about PAR's web site? The full page ads they run and what is said in them? Whether or not elected officials read them or believe their claims? What about the city's own "blog of record," the reading file, which contains Lizzie Van Thrasher's email exposing PAR's attitude toward us "scared" citizens?  "Our Anna Maria -- Preserve It or Lose It" is a 21st century "soap box," part of "the new media," and as such a pulse of the concerns of many who elected you and have a long association with our city's legacy. 

Setting the record straight on several issues: 

-It is not "my" blog. It belongs to those who use it. 

-Unlike most blogs, in keeping with freedom of speech, it is not moderated. 

-The subscriber base is controlled, no differently than that of Save Anna Maria's (that recently denied membership to PAR partners, et al, whose motives are not consistent). 

-While the blog might seem like an anti-PAR entity, it's not. It's just that PAR is the cause du jour. There will be others, as long as there are threats to our beloved city's legacy.

Please don't take any of this as personal. Your becoming mayor has been one of the best things to happen to our city, administratively. It has never been in better shape, and we all owe a huge debt of gratitude to you. But, unlike a conventional mayorship (Temple Terrace?), "forward" in Anna Maria is atypical: typical goals like build the tax base, or strive to increase jobs by expanding the business community or development, have nothing to do with "keeping Anna Maria Anna Maria." 

Keep Anna Maria Anna Maria. Those are your words and represent a promise most all encourage you to keep. 

Duke

Should a Developer be Appointed to Anna Maria's Planning and Zoning Board?!

On June 4, 2009, the spokesman for and partner in Pine Avenue Restoration (PAR), Michael Coleman, applied for a seat on the City of Anna Maria’s Planning & Zoning Board (P&Z). 

P&Z’s function is to review all matters relative to land use and then make recommendations to the City Commission. At this time, it is reviewing all Land Development Regulations for consistency with the recently approved Comprehensive Plan. Other key duties include reviews of development site plans and property owners’ requests for variances to codes. 

When there is an opening on the P&Z, the Mayor recommends a replacement to the Commission. There is not yet an opening, but two terms are nearing completion, and any board member could retire at any time. 

Unlike ordinances that require public hearings and much pre-discussion, Mayoral appointments to committees and boards are approved via the consent agenda at regular City Commission meetings, pretty much as a formality. However, “the times they are a changing” (Bob Dylan, 1965): Mr. Coleman is the same person who recently instigated an initiative for a guest house, on behalf of PAR, that would have required a city code change to allow motels—a change that many thought we’d never see in Anna Maria. That effort failed because of a huge public outcry by many concerned Anna Marians. 

Now, just weeks following that stalled effort, comes Coleman’s application for a seat on the very board that makes recommendations to the City Commission regarding land use! 

This is not an issue about an individual. Neither is it about someone’s qualifications nor professed dedication to our community. The heart of the issue is simple: Is it in our best interest that the Mayor appoints the only person spearheading a major development and re-development of our community to a board that recommends policies regarding the City of Anna Maria’s future? (In case you might doubt whether the Mayor would be so bold as to appoint Coleman, her signature is one of ten on his application endorsing him for consideration.) 

It is important that people express opinions on this matter NOW. It’s all too easy to slip in appointments like this via the consent agenda. What do you think? Sound off with a Comment in this blog. Then email your opinion to the Mayor at ammayor@cityofannamaria.com. And request that your email be copied to all commissioners by copying the City Clerk at amclerk@cityofannamaria.com. 

PAR Partners, Lizzie & Michael Thrasher News

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.

Click on ‘comments’ to read more…