Holmes Beach building inspector Bob Shaffer red-tagged Anna Maria Island Beach Resort June 2. It was the second of two red tags issued the Gulffront resort at 105 39th St., which has 30 days to respond.
Tampa landscape architect John Tate represented the resort in planning ugrades that included three chickee huts, but the work was first red-tagged in January when unpermitted work came to the city’s attention.
The city maintains three huts were built without following building code guidelines or securing building permits.
“They haven’t honored what we asked them to do,” Shaffer said June 3. Tate performed some work requested by the city, but the problem wasn’t resolved, and the second red tag was issued.
“It’s all about definition,” Shaffer said, and “it should have had a site plan and a permit to start.”
Tate sent Shaffer an e-mail June 6 saying he would be submitting permit applications to resolve the resort’s problems Wednesday.
Seminole or Miccosukee tribe-built huts do not require a building permit, as long as the chickee hut is built in the traditional way: a shelter supported by posts with a raised floor, thatched roof and open sides.
The state allows this exemption. It is a cottage industry in Florida that provides income to Seminoles and Miccosukees while replicating their traditional dwelling for others to enjoy.
However, building codes must be followed in every other way, according to Joe Duennes, Holmes Beach superintendent of public works.
Shaffer said the resort violated multiple points under Holmes Beach city building code. Not only were the three chickee huts not built in the traditional way, the large hut was built too close to the resort building and two smaller huts encroach on the building setback.
He confirmed that public works staff removed the some of the palm fronds from the hut roofing for public safety.
He indicated there were issues with plumbing, and the huts include propane-fuel for a grill, a granite-top serving area, electrical service and an over-extension of impervious ground covering. A large hut partially covers the pool and hugs the main building. The smaller huts encroach on the setback and sheds water.
“They must remain a primitive, open-sided hut with a thatched roof,” Duennes said. “The fly in the ointment being they can’t build them anywhere they want.”
Duennes also said that when a roof sheds water, it is a structure that requires a building permit.
“Code does not recognize a building unless a roof sheds water,” Duennes said.
The resort hotel is south of the Manatee Public Beach on 39th Street at Gulf Drive.
By press time, the Islander was unable to contact the resort owners, management or Tate for comment.