Thirty-five days. Three meetings. Eleven topics.
It took slightly more than a month but, at an Aug. 27 Anna Maria meeting, commissioners made it through the first round of discussions on 11 topics concerning the July 19 building moratorium.
The results of round one? Three ordinances in the works.
Commissioners tasked city attorney Becky Vose and planner Alan Garrett with drafting ordinances to reconfigure the regulated living-area ratio in new homes, redefine pool surfaces and create a timeline for demolition of residential properties.
Other topics were determined to be either non-issues or in need of further research.
Once the ordinances are adopted, the LAR — living-area to lot size ratio — will be clarified to be measured based on the exterior-to-exterior walls of air-conditioned space.
New pools will be considered impervious surfaces, counting toward lot coverage.
A timeline will be created for lots to be cleared or existing structures demolished. Chair Chuck Webb and Commissioner Nancy Yetter said lots cleared and then left vacant for long periods are troublesome.
Under a new ordinance, commissioners want to create a regulation so nothing can be done with regard to a property until a building permit is issued. They want to be sure the city’s resources aren’t wasted if building plans aren’t approved.
“We’ve made a lot of progress on the moratorium, but it’s still open-ended on when we’ll be able to lift it,” said Commissioner Doug Copeland.
The moratorium has a six-month time limit from when it was adopted. It limits permitting for new residences to those with no more than four bedrooms.
Existing homes can be renovated during the moratorium, but not expanded.
Also during the moratorium, property owners seeking to build a residence with more than four bedrooms are required to sign a covenant stating the homeowner will not sell or rent the property for five years prior to issuance of a building permit.
Commissioner Dale Woodland, who has opposed the moratorium since its inception, said, “Hopefully this is the last round of discussion on the moratorium. It’s our obligation to fast-track the proceedings and get back to business.”
The commission is scheduled to continue discussion on the moratorium at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.
A final reading of the modified short-term vacation rental ordinance also is on the agenda.
AM moratorium discussion topics:
• Bedroom sizes.
• Living-area ratio.
• Pools and lot coverage.
• Impact fees.
• Building and fire codes.
• Building fees based on lot coverage or bedroom size.
• Separation of building permits from other development permits.
• Lot clearing and demolition permits.
• Determining non-conforming structures.
• Zoning code consistency.
• Renovations for non-elevated structures.