Apparently, style is subjective.
It can be a reflection of your attitude or personality.
“To remove my sign and put in another sign in the same place makes zero sense to me,” John Horne, owner of the Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Historic Bridge Street Pier, said April 11.
Horne was referring to the debate centered on the back-lit restaurant sign near the base of the city pier and plans to replace it with an old wooden sign that advertised the pier.
Some people complained the restaurant sign does not adhere to the aesthetics of the historic district, or it is too brightly lit and in too prominent of a location.
Additionally, the sign stands 3 feet taller than the 13 feet allowed by the city permit, but Horne has said the sign-maker is paying to lower the sign.
The Anna Maria Oyster Bar leases the pier restaurant from the city and the sign is on city property. As part of the lease agreement, the city receives a percentage of the restaurant’s profits.
In February, Fidencia Pla, a resident of the Pines Trailer Park and a member of the Scenic Waves Partnership Committee, circulated a petition asking to have the sign replaced with a new wooden sign more fitting the historic character of the district and moved to a less prominent location. Additionally, the petition called for the “old sign” that advertised the pier to be re-installed where the restaurant sign is located.
Following several motions made and reconsidered for both signs, the commission voted to again discuss relocation and other changes with Horne.
Horne said he is not sure why the commission would want to relocate the sign.
“We are business partners and they get a percentage of my sales. So this doesn’t make any sense to me,” Horne said. “We need to be good business partners.”
Pla said she is happy with the commission’s decision to reconsider the sign.
“I think it was the proper response and change of plans,” Pla wrote in an April 11 email to The Islander. “All along the residents wanted the AMOB sign moved,” based on the 66 residents who signed her petition.
The matter is on the agenda for the next city commission meeting at noon Thursday, April 19, at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.
Why do people not follow the rules and then when they don’t, complain when they’re asked to adhere to them. This is owner’s fault and he needs to fix it according to the rules. He can’t be surprised by this can he? He wasted money on a sign he can’t use. Poor business sense