It’s the policy that will not be named.
A building moratorium in the city of Bradenton Beach is a subject that bristles residents and officials.
Now, with a little push from resident Priscilla VonAhnen, the city commission decided April 7 to restart a discussion on a possible building moratorium.
Mayor Bill Shearon promised voters he’d approach the topic of a building moratorium when he was re-elected as mayor. In one of his first meetings in November 2015 he brought it up, but he received no support.
Shearon calls it “the M-word.”
Times have since changed.
A citizen’s initiative petition is being drafted to get a moratorium vote on the Aug. 30 primary ballot.
Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said she now has a “party house” next to her residence. “I call it the House from Hell.”
What will be involved in the moratorium — moratorium length, building restrictions, etc. — still would need to be determined.
VonAhnen brought forth renewed interest in a town hall meeting and is the driving force behind the petition. She said, “We need to get something in place to stop the buildings while we talk.”
Large — up to eight- or 10-bedroom — vacation homes are being blamed for problems related to noise and parking.
“This place is becoming a nightmare,” Vosburgh said. “I’ve talked with a lot of people who’ve vacationed here for years and now they won’t come back.
“People come here for peace and quiet, not to party.”
When and where a town hall meeting will take place hasn’t been determined but, due to availability and expected audience size, it will not be this month and will not be at city hall, Shearon said. City hall is not large enough to hold the expected attendance.
— Tal Reeve