Holmes Beach residents, business owners oppose parking changes | Letter to the editor
We are submitting this letter on behalf of 68 Anna Maria Island residents, homeowners, and business owners and we respectfully request that this letter be read at the COHB commission meeting Tuesday, June 9.
As of June 5, Holmes Beach intends to reduce street and right of way parking by over 1,000 spots, a reduction from the previous figure of 2,000 spots that was discussed at a city of Holmes Beach Zoom meeting on March 26.
This action was stealthily taken in the middle of a pandemic and is taking advantage of the fact that the city reduced parking during the COVID-19 pandemic but will not be returning all the parking to normal.
There was no consultation with the public or residents despite Chief Tokajer claiming “98% of residents agree with me,” and there was no formal polling process that we are aware of.
The removal of parking in Holmes Beach never appeared on the agenda of any meetings, though it was mentioned during meetings on April 28, May 12 and May 26, 2020
Residents were able to comment freely in regard to the plans for parking at meetings despite the fact that the issue didn’t appear on any meeting agenda and the rules for virtual meetings adopted during the pandemic require all pubic comments to be submitted via email no later than 30 minutes before the start of a meeting.
Manatee County residents, Island residents, second home owners and, most grievously, island businesses have not been considered. The Holmes Beach actions eliminating such a huge number of parking spots will negatively affect Holmes Beach businesses.
Island residents have been told by the police that their existing parking on city rights of way will no longer be available to them. This can mean everything from not enough space for all the family’s cars, to having all their parking eliminated due to a short driveway.
Island residents who wish to have family or friends over for holidays, etc. will now have nowhere for them to park.
Traffic on residential streets will increase as beach goers search for a place to park. Eliminating parking will not eliminate the desire to go to the beach.
Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach will see a large increase in traffic from beach goers not able to find a spot to park in Holmes Beach. This is an unfair burden on the other two cities sharing Anna Maria Island.
This action will discourage non-residents from visiting Holmes Beach, a huge blow to the island businesses already struggling due to the pandemic. The economy and community of Holmes Beach relies heavily on tourists and visitors.
It will take away unwritten rights from property owners that have always been bestowed historically.
Residents who suffer from a disability, elderly and parents with young children who do not live within walking distance to the beach will no longer be able to enjoy the beach.
This message is very unwelcoming for a beach town whose economy depends on tourists and visitors. It is a blatant attempt at exclusivity. Holmes Beach residents, vacation rental owners and businesses are welcoming and the vast majority do not support this attempt at excluding visitors and tourists.
While we have attempted to be as accurate as possible it has been made difficult by the mixed messages from HBPD over 2,000 spots are in meeting documents but the chief said in social media recently it would be over 1,000 spots), and lack of information on the city of Holmes Beach website. We welcome any corrections.
Tammy Snoeyink Cook
Morgan Henderson
Terry Spry-Concessi
Elissa Didio O’Hara
Tony Ham
Mike Eiffert
Terri Eiffert
Natasha Lam
Derrelle Edwards Schaeffer
Linda Copija Virgils
Nancy McAleer
Michael McAleer
Michele Totino
Frank Totino
Julie Andrews
Cory Andrews
Yvette Irizarry Abrahamson
Karlene Lawson
Cathy Lawlor Callen
Jim Callen
Stephen Parsons
Mag Rago Burnopp
Steve Loria
Liz Arnold
Fernanda Marques Fitch
James Morgan Fitch
Joel Songstad
Billi Gartman - Coastal Cottages
Duane Gartman - Fun & More Rentals
Scott Mason - Scott’s Deli
Jamie Mason - Scott’s Deli
Trudy Bodkin Yeats - Scott’s Deli
Karen Shea Price
Stephanie Goshorn
Jennifer Pullen
Brent Pullen
Tuck Wieler
Michael Wilcox
Ammey Erickson
Chris Erickson
Michelle Green
Katy Eson
Tom Huntington
Cory Jackson
John Little
Brian Krostue
Samantha Krostue
Melissa Gorsline
Robert Gorsline
Chris Somers-Troyer - Island Retreat Cleaning & Design
Peggi Davenport - Duffy’s Tavern
Pam Geyer - Duffy’s Tavern
Polly Stroup - Duffy’s Tavern
David Welch
Kerri Welch
Amy Stanley
Patrick Stanley
Ronnee Brady - West Coast Surf Shop
Eric Stacey
Maria Stacey
Joe Hutchinson - Vintage Beach
Tom Curtin
Justin Wilcox
Paul Rejman
Alexandra Liebe
Karsten Liebe
Noelle Conover
Dave Conover