It’s not every day you see a house moored to the day dock at the Historic Bridge Street Pier.
Bradenton Beach Marina owners Allan and Mike Bazzy were counting on the odd sight March 8 to drum up sales for their floating cottages.
The one-bedroom, 42-foot long houseboat was moored to the day dock all day, taking advantage of the city’s open policy for commercial and public use.
Allan Bazzy said he brought the cottage over to show floating cottages could resolve the ongoing concerns about the dock’s use and upland retail businesses.
“Floating cottages could be the foundation for a new Bradenton Beach bazaar,” Bazzy said. “The cottages don’t take up dock space because (they) still allow for boats to be brought alongside.”
As an example, the Bazzy’s tied a boat alongside the floating cottage.
The day dock and the upland buildings are part of an ongoing argument in Bradenton Beach that stems from commercial boats, tour boats and a bait boat that have been operating from the day dock. Pier facilitator/Police Chief Sam Speciale has said the bait business will have to leave the dock.
The city is seeking guidance from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on how the dock can be used.
The DEP leases the submerged ground under the dock and pier to the city.
In a March 1 phone conversation to city officials, DEP representatives said the dock is OK for loading and offloading customers provided no money is exchanged on the dock.
The Bazzys also have a lawsuit against the city alleging Sunshine Law violations regarding lease negotiations for the three upland storefronts on the pier.
The Bazzys pulled their cottage to the pier at 6:30 a.m. and left at 4:30 p.m. Co-owner Mike Bazzy said they’d wait to see how economically viable it was to continue using the day dock to promote the cottage.
Mike Bazzy also said he had no intention of causing trouble or making a political statement.
Other Bradenton Beach businesses have said they’re planning on using the day dock for commercial use, too.
Speciale said March 8 the city is waiting for an official opinion from the DEP before moving forward.
He said his plan is to create commercial slips at the end of the dock, which will free the rest of the area for transient boaters.
