Holmes Beach commissioner sparks kerfuffle over cabana

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An innovative design for an outdoor kitchen on 68th Street in Holmes Beach prompted Commissioner Marvin Grossman to call for a moratorium on cabanas, although he withdrew his request March 16. Islander Photo: Jennifer Sheppard

It’s all about outdoor living.

A home with a towering covered outdoor kitchen and a bridge feature over the pool connecting the cabana to the home’s attached deck, caused Commissioner Marvin Grossman to call for a moratorium on construction, but he withdrew his request March 16.

“I think maybe I’ve been a little bit too paranoid about this thing in terms of what I’m seeing happening and afraid that it’s another way to disturb residents,” Grossman told commissioners. “If this comes in again and the neighbors don’t like it, let’s discuss it … let’s just wait and see if this manifests.”

The property on 68th Street between Palm Drive and Holmes Boulevard is in the R-2 district, which includes single-family and two-family residential dwellings. In the R-2, accessories such as private swimming pools and/or cabanas are allowed “to protect and enhance the character of such residential areas” according to the code.

“It’s very impressive, I mean, not in a good way,” Grossman told commissioners at a meeting March 2 at city hall and he expressed amazement the cabana was allowed.

“I can see this as an attraction that every other resort rental that’s coming up will do because it’s even better than the grottos. It’s more impressive.”

But the structure was reclassified as an outdoor kitchen since it contains electricity and gas.

A cabana, according to the code, is an “accessory shade structure not exceeding 150 square feet in area, which is open on at least one side, permanent in nature with construction compliant with the Florida Building Code, and containing no electrical, plumbing or gas utilities.”

Building official Jim McGuiness said the structure was built to replicate a “detached summer kitchen” but labeled a “pool deck cabana” on plans.

“In this case, this is not a cabana at all,” McGuinness said. “It doesn’t meet the definition of a cabana. It’s too big, it’s got utilities in it and it’s elevated. …Basically it’s an outdoor bar and kitchen connected by a walkway.”

Commission Chair Judy Titsworth said the role of commissioners is not to prohibit innovative designs; but to make sure the laws are being followed.

“If it meets the setbacks, there’s no reason why it couldn’t have been a house sitting right in the same spot looking right over that fence,” Titsworth said.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said she observed the construction of the cabana through a neighboring backyard and her mouth “fell open.”

“My hesitation with this is that sound carries extremely well here on this island. It’s going to carry,” she said. “There’s no way it’s not going to. I think it’s just taken to the extreme too much.”

McGuinness said the rear wall of the structure is solid and faces the house, which in a typical summer kitchen would be open and the noise would go off-site.

“There’s a bit of an advantage there in this design,” McGuinness said. “It’s a strange animal. It’s quite innovative.”

He asked commissioners for an “expressed prohibition on this if you don’t want it to happen again.”

“I can’t administer opinions,” he said. “I can only enforce laws.”

Commissioners asked McGuinness to notify them if he sees another innovative structure application.

The commission will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.