Gov. signs parking garage bill, protest follows

House Bill 947 is signed and in the books.

But the battle over a potential parking garage in Holmes Beach remains far from over.

Gov. Ron DeSantis filed a transmittal letter at 1:55 p.m. June 23 notifying Secretary of State Cord Byrd that he’d approved 10 bills, including HB 947, to become law.

HB 947, filed by Rep. Will Robinson Jr., R-Bradenton, authorizes the county to construct a parking garage in a public park managed by the county within the Holmes Beach city limits, such as Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive.

The bill overrides a city code that prohibits multilevel parking facilities within municipal limits by allowing the county to construct such a structure without city permits or approval.

HB 947 comes in response to an almost three-year feud between the county and city over parking lost when the city established a park-by-permit system in summer 2020.

The city prohibited public parking 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in 645 parking spaces along residential roadways and began selling $15 decals to residents and property owners to allow them to park in those spots.

City officials stand by the system, which they argue has improved residential quality of life by reducing roadside parking in residential areas and its side effects, such as litter and noise.

County officials, led by Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge, R-District 3,, and Robinson at the state level, argue such a system is unfair to off-island residents visiting the beaches and have pushed the city to restore the public parking spaces.

HB 947 cruised through this year’s legislative session, passing the House of Representatives April 27 on a 116-0 vote and the Senate May 4 on a 39-0 vote.

The bill became law upon the governor’s approval, so the onus to pursue the construction of a parking garage in Holmes Beach now falls to the county commission.

The county has presented preliminary plans for a $45 million parking garage — funded by tourist development taxes — that would provide 1,500-1,700 paid parking spaces, expanded concessions, restroom and locker room facilities, as well as the potential for restaurant and retail spaces.

The structure would replace the 400-space parking lot and existing facilities — restrooms, the Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe and the Surf Sun & Sand Gift Shop.

The plan also would require the removal of all trees on the county’s buildable land at the beach.

As of June 24, the construction of such a parking garage had not been included in the county’s capital improvement program, which provides programming and funding for capital projects over the next five years.

The CIP is required under the county’s comprehensive plan and annually reviewed and revised by the county commission.

Robinson did not respond to a June 23 call from The Islander.

Van Ostenbridge did not respond to a June 24 email from The Islander.

‘No parking garage’ protest

A little more than two hours after DeSantis’ letter was filed, about 50 protesters gathered outside the Manatee County administrative building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, to oppose a potential parking garage.

Protesters carried handmade signs and placards reading, “No parking garage in Holmes Beach,” “Danger Will Robinson!” “Big gov’t sucks!” and more while they waved for motorists to honk horns in support of their cause.

Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth and Commissioner Carol Soustek, as well as city staff, including code compliance supervisor JT Thomas and public works administrator Matt McDonough, were in the crowd.

Titsworth told The Islander June 23 that she was not surprised DeSantis, who has not responded to any of the city’s attempts to contact him, signed HB 947 into law.

“I’m actually happy that DeSantis made the decision and didn’t just leave it unsigned,” she said. “Now, when it comes time to elect the president, people can see the overreach and how it’s just not like the party.”

Anna Maria resident Jack Bergbom brought a sign reading, “S.A.M. ,” harkening back to Save Anna Maria Inc., a now-defunct nonprofit that opposed the Florida Department of Transportation’s plans to replace the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue with a megabridge.

Bergbom also said HB 947’s violation of municipal home rule and the county’s pursuit of a parking garage are contradictory to the Republican party’s “small government values.”

“These conservatives are just sticking their hands where they shouldn’t be stuck,” he said. “It’s despotism, in my opinion. … We’ve got politicians in Tallahassee telling Holmes Beach basically how to live their lives.”

Bergbom called for county commissioners to drop their pursuit of the parking garage and for voters to pay attention.

“I’d like to see the people that are responsible voted out of office and have a little more sanity put back into the government,” he said. “A little less government and a little more home rule.”

Bradenton Beach resident Susan Putney, who was holding a sign stating, “Quaint paradise, Old Florida ­ Parking garage!” told The Islander June 23 that the proposed parking garage would be a slippery slope to ruin the island’s character.

She said she moved to the island in 2021 after visiting and falling in love with its nature and lack of major development.

“It’s going to take away the charm and the quaintness of a very small island that so many people love. I’m relatively a newbie there, but I can appreciate what they’re trying to hold onto and save because there aren’t many places like that left,” Putney said.

She said the beach already is near capacity during weekends and adding more people to the equation by increasing parking wouldn’t be beneficial.

“I challenge those people to come out here on a weekend and sit in that traffic and see what it’s already like before they do this,” Putney said. “Take a walk on the beach on a holiday weekend. It’s shoulder-to-shoulder and umbrella-to-umbrella. You can only fit so many people in a given space.”

She added that she wants the city to put up a legal challenge against the bill.

Holmes Beach resident Rod Tolerton, who held a sign with the Joni Mitchell lyrics, “They paved paradise / put up a parking lot,” told The Islander June 23 that he also wants the city to challenge HB 947 in court.

“It’s going to ruin the island,” Tolerton said. “The traffic is going to become unimaginable. … Bring them in by bus from somewhere else, just keep traffic off of the island. It’s just going to create a huge mess.”

The protesters aren’t alone in their opposition to HB 947 and a potential parking garage.

A change.org petition, titled “Veto HB 947 – Say NO to proposed parking garage!” sought 5,000 signatures when it launched May 15.

As of June 24, 6,497 people had signed the petition, according to change.org.

Another petition, launched May 17 on manateecitizenstakingaction.com, had gathered 2,915 signatures in opposition to the bill as of June 24.

Titsworth said she directed city attorney Erica Augello to prepare legal challenges against the bill to bring to a city commission meeting for consideration.

In the meantime, the mayor called for people opposed to the parking garage to prepare for the long haul.

“I just hope the citizens don’t give up the fight,” Titsworth said. “Because it’s not over yet and this is worth fighting for.”