Two more Bert Harris claims were filed in Anna Maria, claiming a combined $685,000 in losses.
The claims were filed by Najmy Thompson law firm in Bradenton and bring the total number of claims against Anna Maria to 64, for $21,612,000 in alleged losses.
The Bert Harris Jr. Private Property Protection Act of 1995 allows property owners to seek monetary relief if they can prove a government action lowered the value of their property.
The claims have followed the April 1 implementation of the cityʼs vacation rental ordinance limiting the number of occupants to short-term rentals. The claims seek restoration of the rights that existed prior to the VRO in lieu of a reduction in the appraised property value.
The city has 150 days to respond to a Bert Harris claim.
On July 21, city commissioners approved settlement offers for 24 of the 64 claims. The offers are for relief on the number of guests allowed at the various rental homes. However, the city did not offer to restore the rental rights that existed before the VRO. Instead, each offer allows more guests than the VRO, but prior to the VRO, guests were not limited in residential homes.
Following the commission approval, the individual offers were prepared by Vose and sent out earlier this month. The city is awaiting responses from the property owners.
If the offers from the city are rejected by the claimants, the cases will likely proceed to court.
A new claim, filed Aug. 16, was made on behalf of John Munn at 213 Spruce Ave. for $340,000 in lost value.
The second new claim, filed Aug. 17, was made on behalf of 9802 Gulf Drive LLC at 9802 Gulf Drive for $345,000 in lost value.
Bianca Benedí