“Obviously, a sign is the most important thing to a business,” Commissioner Ralph Cole said Feb. 15 regarding the Anna Maria Oyster Bar sign near the Historic Bridge Street Pier.
Concerns about the height, placement and style of the sign have caught the attention of the Bradenton Beach city commissioners and Mayor John Chappie.
Chappie said Feb. 15 that he should have asked more questions when the commission approved the sign permit in late 2016.
AMOB leases the restaurant space on the pier from the city and the sign is located on city property.
During a Feb. 1 commission meeting, Scenic WAVES Partnership Committee member Fidencia Pla said she is concerned the sign violates code, blocks the view of the clock tower and does not fit the character of the historic district.
Pla said the sign is about 16 feet 6 inches tall, and the height limit on freestanding signs in the city is 12 feet. She said the permit did not include lighting or smaller signs for other businesses, which are attached below the main sign.
Additionally, Pla said the sign does not conform to the character of the sign it replaced.
The former sign stood at the foot of the pier and was close in size to the new sign, but it did not include business advertising and was made of wood for a historic look.
At the Feb. 15 meeting, Chappie said he shared Pla’s concerns and suggested lowering the AMOB sign and moving it closer to the foot of the pier, and replacing the old pier sign where the AMOB sign now stands.
Additionally, he suggested toning down the lighting and adding “gingerbreading” to the AMOB sign to match the style of the historic district.
The commission agreed with Chappie about lowering the sign and changing the aesthetic, but did not support relocating the sign.
“It’s all about exposure,” Cole said. “If you don’t see the sign, you might go around and drive by.”
“I need to get as many people into the restaurant as possible,” AMOB owner John Horne said. He agreed to consider lowering the sign, changing the lighting from internal to spotlights mounted atop the sign and adding trim.
Jim Hassett, a Bradenton Beach resident of 25 years, said Feb. 20 he thinks the sign is fine as-is and supports AMOB.
“(Horne) has done a lot to improve the pier since his business has been there,” Hassett said. “It’s a big draw to the pier for people. And he needs to get people in there right now, while they’re here for season.”
The commissioners and mayor unanimously voted to direct the pier team advisory board to review the AMOB sign permit and bring a recommendation to the commission.