Caddy’s will be included in final entertainment district vote ... for now

There’s a reason why city officials have shied away from using “entertainment district” terminology to the preferred “noise exception area,” and it had a lot to do with including Caddy’s at the Pointe into a proposed district in the heart of historic Old Manatee.

Planning and Community Development Director Catherine Hartley said if the council labels it an entertainment district, then the district must be contiguous. Councilman Bemis Smith’s proposal to create the city’s first noise exception area in Old Manatee left a challenge to connect the proverbial boundary dots.

The council on Wednesday unanimously approved to schedule a June 14 public hearing to amend the city’s noise ordinance to create the noise exception area, and to include Caddy’s, 801 Riverside Drive E., but that decision is not a done deal.

“I left out that area not to box ourselves out, but as I said, wouldn’t be opposed to including Caddy’s as long as it doesn’t create a stir that kills the whole thing,” Smith said.

Smith had left Caddy’s out of his original proposal but was encouraged by other council members to include it. Councilman Harold Byrd Jr. said the council’s job is to set policy at the service of the public. Byrd said he would favor including Caddy’s but could change his mind should the public hearing spur public opposition.

“It’s always been my opinion to include Caddy’s, but we can take it out at a public hearing,” he said.

It is easier to reduce a proposed boundary amendment than it is to expand one once the public hearing has been advertised, and that was satisfactory to Smith.

“I’m open to any input if the desire is to expand the area, as long as we can get the votes for the district I have laid out,” Smith said. “I’m just trying to offer as large an area as possible with little residential impact. I just don’t want it to be a deal killer.”

Smith was not happy with the way he perceived his colleagues’ backtrack from what had been discussed prior to the council voting on a new noise ordinance in March, which resulted in an unusual and confusing meeting. He doesn’t want it to happen again, but Byrd said that even if Caddy’s was removed from the amendment, “We can still accomplish the objective you want for the Old Manatee area.”

Ultimately, Smith’s proposal is about economic development, believing some relief from noise restrictions will spur redevelopment.

“This isn’t about necessarily nightclubs, but there are a lot of vacant buildings in that area that would make great restaurants,” he said.

According to the ordinance amendment, five additional decibels, from 75 to 80, will be allowed from 7 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until midnight on weekends. The district would be allowed 10 extra decibels, from 65 to 75, at all other times. A map showing the boundaries being proposed will be presented with the final draft, and the council will have one more opportunity to make changes before voting at its June 14 meeting.

This story was originally published May 24, 2017 at 8:01 PM with the headline "Caddy’s will be included in final entertainment district vote ... for now."