The Ugly Grouper is looking for ways to grow.
Holmes Beach assistant city planner Austen Dole presented information Feb. 9 at a city work session on a plan to increase seating and parking at the Ugly Grouper restaurant, 5704 Marina Drive.
City planner Bill Brisson reviewed the plans and proposal from the restaurant. Final approval rests with the city commission.
Attorney Scott Rudacille, presenting on behalf of the restaurant, proposed increased seating capacity from 173 to 257 during operating hours before 5 p.m. and from 239 to 284 seats after that time.
Brisson recommended 270 seats after 5 p.m.
Holmes Beach resident Margie Motzer spoke against the additional seating.
“As you review this site plan, I would ask that you set a priority on preservation of our residential neighborhoods and the character of our city,” she said. “The request is for a 49% increase in daytime seating and the increase for nighttime seating is almost 20%. So you’re talking hundreds of people.”
Rudacille addressed parking and live music, telling commissioners that golf cart parking should be utilized at the establishment. Additionally, he said the restaurant installed equipment to ensure that noise does not exceed decibel levels.
Commissioner Carol Soustek asked Brisson if a special exception should be added for sound amplification, but he deferred to Eran Wasserman, city development director.
He was not in agreement that the restaurant uses an amplifier, “but the end result is amplified music,” Wasserman said.
Soustek continued her concern.
“I have been over there and you can’t even hear the person next to you talking when they are playing music,” she said.
She opposed the use of loudspeakers.
“You have to consider the houses, too, not just the business,” Soustek said, adding that volume control should be considered.
Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said the sound is being monitored via a device at the restaurant and no issues have been detected.
“The regular dinner music that they play, I don’t see that as a problem,” he said. “I went over there with a noise meter and I didn’t get a register on it. The way they have it set up now, I’m fine with it.”
Commissioner Terry Schaefer, who lives near the Ugly Grouper, said noise is not an issue for him.
“Obviously, noise is a concern throughout the community,” he said. “In the four-plus years we have lived there, I have not heard it.”
Kihm deferred to city attorney Patricia Petruff, who said she would work with staff and Rudacille to develop a resolution.
The commission reached a consensus to allow the attorneys to resolve matters and return to a future meeting.
The next city commission meeting will continue discussing the site plan at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, held via Zoom, with instructions on the city website at holmesbeachfl.org.