AM moratorium faces problem: What’s the problem?

Anna Maria commissioners at the March 8 first reading of an ordinance establishing a moratorium on review and issuance of new building permits, couldn’t decide whether to proceed or drop the matter.

The moratorium resolution enacted Feb. 23 was for “zoning in progress,” said city attorney Jim Dye. It allowed the city to halt further issuance and review of building permits while it establishes a moratorium ordinance.

But the problem, according to several commissioners, is that they don’t know what constitutes the problem, or need for the moratorium.

“I don’t know what it is we’re trying to solve,” said Commissioner Dale Woodland, after spending the past two weeks studying the issues related to the Feb. 23 moratorium resolution.

At the Feb. 23 commission meeting, Commission Chair Chuck Webb expressed concern that new single-family construction or remodeling might add more bedrooms to a vacation rental, thus bringing more tourists to the city.

He suggested that might create a hotel-like atmosphere in some areas of the city.

The construction of multi-bedroom vacation properties might cause more noise violations, more garbage left curbside and overflow parking on lawns and other property owner’s driveways, he suggested.

Webb said Holmes Beach has had a number of new duplexes and single-family homes built recently with multiple bedrooms that can be rented to several families at the same time.

He noted that the house on a three-lot property at 60 N. Shore Drive was recently torn down. The lots could be used to build three single-family dwellings with multiple bedrooms that could be rented to large groups of people at the same time.

“That’s not enough of a problem for me,” Woodland said. “Anna Maria has always had rentals. What are we trying to solve here?” he asked.

Commissioner Jo Ann Mattick agreed. She wasn’t sure if the city was trying to regulate vacation rentals or have more enforcement of code violations at vacation properties.

Woodland said the city can’t regulate only vacation rental properties. It must pass ordinance to include all residential housing, not just rentals.

Commissioner John Quam sided with Woodland and Mattick.

“I just don’t see a problem. Anna Maria is already 99 percent built out,” he said, and no new duplex construction is allowed.

But Webb and Commissioner SueLynn said the city needs legislation to ensure single-family homes with large numbers of bedrooms don’t proliferate as vacation rentals in the city.

Opponents of the moratorium, including Scott Eason, co-owner of the three North Shore Drive lots, said he and his family plan to sell only to families. One lot already has been sold to a couple retiring to Anna Maria.

Eason said the couple assured him they want only to live in the “peace and quiet” of Anna Maria.

Mike Coleman of Pine Avenue Restoration LLC said the moratorium will put people out of work, as building plans can’t proceed while the moratorium resolution is in effect.

The city must either enact a moratorium ordinance with an end date, or withdraw the resolution, he said.

Coleman said he couldn’t see a problem, even with houses with multiple bedrooms. They are everywhere in the city already, he said.

Woodland agreed. He said he could go down any street in the city and find houses with five or six or more bedrooms.

“It sounds like we’re trying to pass a moratorium to create a problem,” he said.

Although it appeared the moratorium ordinance might die at the first reading, commissioners compromised.

They scheduled the second reading for 7 p.m. Thursday, March 29, while adding a work session at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 22, to discuss the reasons for the building moratorium.