Florida lawmakers pitch bill to allow Anna Maria Island parking garage, combine 3 cities
State lawmakers representing the Bradenton area plan to introduce legislation that could have major impacts on Anna Maria Island by allowing a parking garage and possibly combining its three cities.
Ahead of the 2023 legislative session, Manatee County’s five lawmakers held a public meeting Thursday morning to share their ideas and hear from residents. State Rep. Will Robinson, R-Bradenton, proposed a bill that would pave the way for additional parking facilities on the barrier island.
Robinson, who has been a vocal critic of the city of Holmes Beach’s controversial changes to street parking near Manatee County’s beaches, said he believes it is time for the state to weigh in.
“It is fundamental for anyone to be able to visit our public beach, and in my view, parking spaces have been strategically taken away over the last few years — under the guise of COVID — to not allow folks to access the beach,” Robinson said. “Folks are getting frustrated, they can’t access the beach, they’re turning around and they’re going back home.”
“We’re taking it seriously,” added State Sen. Jim Boyd. “We’re trying to provide access and availability for all of Manatee County and the friends and visitors who come from all over the world, not just for folks who live there.”
The local delegation — Robinson, Boyd, Reps. Mike Beltran and Tommy Gregory and Sen. Joe Gruters, voted unanimously in support of the bill, which Robinson will introduce into the Florida House of Representatives in the coming weeks.
The legislation would allow Manatee County officials to approve their own building permits on county-owned land on Anna Maria Island. Because the parking lot for Manatee Public Beach sits within Holmes Beach, a parking garage proposal would be subject to the city’s regulations.
In August, the Holmes Beach City Commission moved to prohibit multi-level parking structures.
If approved by the House, the Florida Senate and Gov. Ron DeSantis later this year, the law would pave the way for the county to build a parking garage on the public parking lot at the end of State Road 64.
No more island cities?
Lawmakers said they would also support a study that determines whether it makes sense to consolidate each of the island’s three cities — Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach – into fewer jurisdictions.
The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) would be asked to conduct the study. Robinson said consolidating island cities could save taxpayer dollars.
Reached for comment Thursday afternoon, Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said she was “extremely surprised” and disappointed by the delegation’s vote. Robinson told the Bradenton Herald he did not reach out to Holmes Beach to discuss the matter beforehand.
“I wish he would reach out to me to get a firsthand tour of what we’re doing. As a mayor in his district, I would have appreciated notice before he got out of his lane with such a bold move. There was never a heads-up,” Titsworth said. “I was shocked.”
“This doesn’t just affect the city of Holmes Beach,” she added. “I hope every city takes notice. Every city needs to take notice that we have state representatives that are boldly attacking home rule.”
Battle over AMI beach parking escalates
In 2020, Holmes Beach moved to reduce the amount of on-street parking, arguing that the city’s residential neighborhoods were taking on the brunt of visitors. For several decades, drivers had been allowed to park in neighborhoods and walk to the nearest beach access for free, but city residents said that parking arrangement was not ideal.
At the time, Holmes Beach officials said there were reports of beach visitors blocking residential driveways, littering and relieving themselves on private property because bathroom facilities are not available in those areas.
After removing the spaces to conduct a study, Holmes Beach began allowing residential parking again, but only before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
The Manatee Board of County Commissioners previously suggested building a garage to address parking issues. However, before the county could move forward with the plan, Holmes Beach moved to ban parking garages.
Opponents of the plan have said the structure would change the character of the island, which is known for its small-town, laid-back feel. On the other side, county officials say a garage would relieve much of the traffic congestion and parking issues on Anna Maria Island.
In recent years, the relationship between county and Holmes Beach officials has been strained by the back and forth over parking. Leaders have traded barbs in public and private meetings but have not agreed on the issue.
What happens next?
While Robinson’s bill has not been introduced yet, one of his fellow legislators said he is confident the bill will be successful.
“I think it will,” Boyd, R-Bradenton, said when asked about the bill’s chances of crossing the finish line this year. “It’s got broad support, unanimous support from our delegation. Typically, local bills, when they get in that process, unless there’s some ball from left field that no one anticipates … it should pass. I feel very comfortable.”
Robinson also highlighted that the introduction of the bill is only the first in the process. He welcomed residents to reach out to his office to share their concerns about beach parking on Anna Maria Island.
“We have got to have a serious community conversation on beach access and beach parking because as our community continues to grow, this issue continues to get worse,” Robinson said.
This story was originally published January 12, 2023 at 3:41 PM.
