It’s a question likely being asked by a number of cities up and down the Florida coast.
In the future, will Bradenton Beach be a resort town with a few neighborhoods or a small tourism-based community?
The city’s population may not be in decline as much as many believe. There were 1,171 residents in 2014, compared to 1,166 in 2010, according to the University of Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research.
But as the city climbs out of the hole dug by the recession of the past decade, and with an increasing number of Baby Boomers settling into retirement, some longtime and elder residents are beginning to feel crowded by tourists.
Whether Bradenton Beach should have a moratorium on construction of large homes for vacationers has been a big issue in the mayoral campaign that will conclude with the Nov. 3 general election.
Laced through the moratorium debate is the rivalry between Mayor Jack Clarke and challenger, former Mayor Bill Shearon. Shearon was mayor November 2013-May 2015, when Clarke gained his seat in a recall election.
Clarke defeated Shearon by 13 votes in May after voters removed Shearon by eight votes.
And the division continues.
Shearon said the recall election was politically motivated. None of the allegations against him, claims about violations of Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Laws, were confirmed, investigated or proven.
Meanwhile, moratorium supporters believe the city needs a timeout to establish reasonable and effective regulations on rental properties. Proponents want to halt new construction for homes with five or more bedrooms — large vacation homes.
But while Clarke brought residents together to discuss establishing a moratorium, he reversed the moratorium in favor of a “quality-of-life” ordinance — licensing rental homes.
The moratorium proposal, which enjoyed widespread support of residents two months ago and which many believe is an essential precursor to sound rental regulations, now languishes on the political vine.
Shearon, who held a meet-and-greet with voters Oct. 22 at Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach, said he supports a moratorium. If elected, he said, a moratorium proposal will be on the agenda at the first commission meeting he presides over in November.
Shearon said he wants to give city officials and residents the time they need to review all the issues.
He cited the growing number of real estate transactions that appear to be headed toward vacation home ownership.
“Part of it is the party houses and the rentals,” Shearon said, “Those are major concerns that affect all of us, but it can’t be done in a very fast pace. We need to slow down a little bit and work with the other two cities that have been working on this for a year,” referring to Anna Maria and Holmes Beach.
Clarke voted against the moratorium, saying that people, not houses, cause noise and parking problems in Bradenton Beach. Efforts to reach him by phone Oct. 22 were unsuccessful. He has not spoken directly to The Islander since June.