It looks like Bridge Street is going coconuts.
The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency voted April 3 to enhance Bridge Street with more than 80 coconut palms among the street’s landscape easements.
The CRA is chaired by Commissioner Ralph Cole and includes Mayor John Chappie, city commissioners and business owner Ed Chiles. A citizen seat is vacant.
The agency oversees projects using tax dollars in the district which is bordered by Cortez Road, Sarasota Bay, Fifth Street South and the Gulf of Mexico.
CRA members discussed a $50,000 landscaping proposal on April 3 from city attorney Ricinda Perry.
The agreement with M&F Landscape of Bradenton will redefine the streetscape, incorporating white river rock, 50 large and 30 small coconut palms, bike racks and upgraded trash receptacles.
Perry said M&F Landscape, the vendor, will oversee the plantings.
However, she said the continuing maintenance of the palms will be entrusted to developer Shawn Kaleta, who pledged to indemnify the city against any liabilities arising from the trees or falling coconuts.
A similar agreement exists with Anna Maria Oyster Bar, which has CRA approval for coconut palms at the Historic Bridge Street Pier.
Perry said Kaleta pledged $10,000 toward the project. The remainder of the funding, $40,000, will come from CRA district improvement funds.
Chappie said the coconuts will be collected by Kaleta for use at his hotels and restaurants.
The trees — with an optimal plant time of April and May — will come from Miami.
Two Bridge Street business owners, Angela Rodocker of the BridgeWalk Resort and Derrick Williams of The Drift-In AMI, raised concerns.
“We have coconut palms at one of our properties,” Rodocker said. “They are beautiful but they are a liability. I am not suggesting that you don’t go forward with this but maintenance of these is highly critical.”
Rodocker said she is in favor of Kaleta overseeing the maintenance of the trees.
Williams said Kaleta contacted him regarding the project.
“I got called at the office by Shawn … asking me if I want to put palms in front of my building and kind of being told that it was an easement, and I don’t have a choice anyway. I don’t appreciate that approach, so I am going to start there,” Williams said.
“My concern is the coconuts, the maintenance of them and keeping things clean and operational,” he added. “I am game, let’s communicate and let’s do the right thing.”
“I always believe that everything should be made, particularly in the city, as maintenance-free as possible,” Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said.
Chappie said, “I kind of like the idea. Liability does concern me, but I believe it would enhance the Key West, old-island feel on Anna Maria Island.”
Cole suggested Chappie work with M&F and Bridge Street business owners on identifying the best locations for the trees.
Chappie motioned to approve the landscaping with coconut palms and white river rock with maintenance and indemnification by Kaleta and the acceptance of the developer’s $10,000 donation.
The motion was seconded by Vosburgh and passed unanimously 5-0. Chiles was absent with excuse.