The Anna Maria city commission voted April 6 to approve nine more Bert Harris settlement offers.
The offers — if accepted — would grant owners occupancy of between eight and 14 people with the stipulation that all bedrooms are at least 100 square feet.
An exception was made for property at 501 S. Bay Blvd. owned by Rick and Kristina Kellar.
In their letter to the city accompanying the Bert Harris claim, the Kellars said they purchased their property with the intention of building a home where Kristina Kellar could install an elevator for her wheelchair. However, the living-area ordinance restricted their building capabilities.
The commission voted to allow the Kellars to construct their house according to their initial plans, with the stipulation that they not use it as a vacation rental for five years.
Commissioner Doug Woodland recused himself from voting on property at 104 Tuna St. for personal involvement in the property’s construction and Commissioner Brian Seymour recused himself from voting on property at 237 Willow Ave. for the same reason.
Of 112 claims filed against Anna Maria, 49 have been settled.
The Bert Harris Jr. Private Property Protection Act of 1995 allows property owners to seek relief if they can prove a government action lowered the value of their property.
Claimants must provide appraisals to establish value and settlements, in lieu of a cash payment, can either fully or partly restore the rights that existed before the prohibitions. The city initially has 150 days to respond to Bert Harris allegations.