Changes may be coming for the Manatee Avenue “gateway” to Holmes Beach.
But not without some concerns.
City commissioners reached a consensus Dec. 13 to move forward with a request to rezone property at 699 Manatee Ave., the former Bank of America building, from C-1 to C-2, despite voicing concern about the change.
Bob Bolus of Bolus Truck Parts and Towing Services purchased the vacant property from Bank of America in 2019 for $1,025,600 and the building has remained vacant.
Bolus, who attended the meeting along with his engineer, Paul Blackketter, told commissioners he’d spent more than $2 million to purchase and maintain the building so it would not detract from the city’s gateway.
The property is zoned for the C-1 commercial district, which allows for low-intensity commercial uses such as office spaces.
The city’s C-2 commercial zone allows for higher-intensity commercial uses, such as retail spaces or restaurants, in addition to the uses allowed in the C-1 zone.
City commissioners voted 3-2 last year to approve a request similar to Bolus’ for the former Regions Bank at 503 Manatee Ave., which was rezoned from C-1 to C-2 to allow for a Publix Super Market pharmacy with a drive-thru and a liquor store.
Chad Minor, the city’s planning and zoning administrator, said Bolus’ request met all criteria required to rezone 699 Manatee Ave., and staff recommended its approval.
Minor said a separate site plan review would need to go before the commission if the owner wants to change uses but no such proposals had been submitted to the city.
Bolus said he intended to keep the property at 699 Manatee Ave., although there are FSBO signs on the grounds, but did not share plans about what he would do with it after a rezone to C-2.
That presented an issue for city officials, who thanked Bolus for his efforts in maintaining the property but expressed concern with the property’s unclear future use.
Mayor Judy Titsworth called the request “borderline terrifying” because allowing such a change would increase its market value, potentially pricing out future C-1 activities, such as urgent care clinics.
“I’m glad I’m not one of you during a rezoning of this type,” Titsworth said.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer said he’s concerned a more intensive business would increase traffic in the area, which could impact adjacent residential buildings. He said he was surprised the staff report concluded the change would only result in a “minimal” traffic increase.
Schaefer added that knowing the intended future land use for the property would make the decision easier.
However, city attorney Erica Augello said such information was unimportant since the commission could only approve the request if it met the city’s rezone criteria in its current state — and it did.
The commission agreed to send it forward to the planning commission during its next meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.
It may then go before the city commission, which will meet next at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, also at city hall.
Directions to attend the meetings via Zoom can be found at holmesbeachfl.org.