Month: November 2023

BRADENTON, Fla. — With more people moving to Manatee County, more changes are expected to keep up with the growth in downtown Bradenton.

Donna Mathias has spent a lot of time researching.

“I really had no idea I was going to be this involved,” she said.

She’s been invested in what’s going on in her community since 2022 when she started the group Bradenton Concerned Citizens.

“It’s a site that we have because we have citizens that are concerned about everything that is happening,” she said.

Recently, the Bradenton City Council passed a new ordinance allowing new height allowances for buildings downtown. Buildings can now reach 20 stories high with no restrictions, and T5 zoning can now go to 20 stories high where before it was only allowed up to 12.

City officials say, depending on the situation, buildings could be allowed to go over 20 stories.

“What concerns me is parking and traffic; traffic down here is horrible now,” Mathias said. “Imagine if they get several 20-25 stories down here.”

She says she’s not opposed to development or change, but she wants it done in a way that complements the city.

“I like that it is a hometown downtown,” she said. “You come here, the low profile, that’s what draws a lot of people to Bradenton.”

Councilwoman Marianne Barnebey voted in favor of Ordinance 4017. She says it’s a necessity to keep up with how many people are moving to the area.

“I don’t think that 20 stories is a massive building,” she said. “It depends on how you use it, how you buffer it. We are talking about using a lot of the trees and appropriate landscaping to make it warm and friendly.” 

Barnebey says there are some buildings that need revamping, but in this process, as a Bradenton native, she says it’s a priority to maintain the feel of downtown.

“I understand that the only thing that likes change is a wet baby,” she said. “However, if you have properties that are just laying fallow and have done that for 10, 15, 20, 30, 35 years, we need to do something to try and spur redevelopment in those areas.”

But for Mathias, she’s most concerned about one building, the Central Library that’s zoned in T5.

“The libraries provide so much,” she said. “There are children I think wouldn’t even know what a book is if they didn’t have a library.”

She’s worried because of its location and zoning it will be torn down and rebuilt into a 20-story building.

“I’m worried this library is going to be destroyed,” she said.

She’s doing everything she can to save it, even collecting more than 13,000 signatures for a petition.

“It’s waterfront, and of course, waterfront is valuable property there is right now, and the county and the city see this as a tax space they can get a lot of tax revenue from it, but you have to realize citizens deserve a good public space to come to,” she said.

Barnebey understands she might have to adapt to change as long as the charm of downtown stays the same.

Before any building is allowed to be rezoned, it must be approved by the city.

Source: baynews9.com

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All options are on the table in a study pushed by Manatee County legislators that will help state officials decide if the three cities on Anna Maria Island should be combined into one new city, consolidated into the city of Bradenton, or de-annexed altogether.

Legislators started the effort last year when the state approved a bill that allows Manatee County to build a parking garage in the city of Holmes Beach without a permit from the city.

That effort included plans for the research arm of the state legislature, the Office of Program Policy Analysis, to study the consolidation of the three island cities.

From the archive:Parking feud between Manatee County and Holmes Beach escalates

More background:Beach parking at Holmes Beach at forefront of joint meeting with Manatee County

Rep. Will Robinson, R-Bradenton, said results from the study will not be ready in time for consideration during the upcoming 2024 legislative session. Instead, the bill is likely to be completed around the summer for consideration in 2025.

He told the Herald-Tribune that the growing ratio of short-term rentals on the island compared to the number of permanent residents led him to question whether it is necessary to have three municipalities overseeing island governance.

“Do we really need three police departments, three building departments, three of everything in these small cities?” Robinson said. “That’s really all it is, it’s a study that evaluates all the options.”

“The most likely thing we do is do nothing because it’s complicated, it’s a big deal to people that live out there, but I think right now is a good time to study it,” he said. “I know people are concerned about the city of Bradenton option, but Sen. (Jim) Boyd and I thought we should study all the options out there and not just options we like or don’t like.”

City of Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said state-level pre-emptions approved in 2011 prevent cities from imposing limits on the length of stay, which has led to a glut of short-term rentals on Anna Maria Island and other tourism destinations.

More politics:Speaker Mike Johnson, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan tour SRQ airport on eve of major fundraiser

She expressed concern about the possibility that the creation of a new city, or consolidation into Bradenton, could lead to more density and high-rise construction on the island.

“The cities, with their charters, have been able to protect this and make this a destination everyone wants to go to,” Titsworth said. “The city of Holmes Beach alone contributed $40 million to the bed tax… We have zero debt and we have $12 million in reserves. Who wouldn’t want us?”

“The real thing is that the (city) charters are protecting the residents out here, the city commission can’t just come in and say we want to raise height limits,” she said. “It has to go to a referendum. The voters get to say that. Well if they get rid of the charters they don’t have to deal with those pesky constituents.”

Source: heraldtribune.com

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For context, Anna Maria Island, which is only seven miles long, is made up of three separate cities: Anna Maria to the north, Bradenton Beach to the south, and Holmes Beach in the middle. Each city has its own police department, city commission and mayor, but this could change depending on the results of the consolidation study ordered by the Florida Legislature in late October.

There has been a push since the beginning of the year for state lawmakers to consider combining the island’s three cities for tax purposes. Republican state representative Will Robinson of Bradenton is leading the effort.

During this year’s legislative session, lawmakers paved the way for OPPAGA to conduct the study. Prior to Titsworth’s November 9 statement regarding Bradenton potentially annexing the three cities, it was assumed that consolidation would entail either combining the three island cities into a single Anna Maria Island government or annexing them into Manatee County and dissolving their existing municipalities.

The island cities currently have some of the lowest millage rates in the county- less than half those of unincorporated Manatee County or the city of Bradenton.

READ: Man injured after being bitten by shark off Anna Maria Island: Officials

The consolidation study is expected to be completed by July 2024, with researchers presenting their results to lawmakers, who would then decide whether to publish the report and make it available to the cities and to the public.

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Bradenton, Florida Things To Do, Lodging, Dining, & Real Estate At End Of Article

Bradenton, Florida is located on US-41 between Tampa and Sarasota. It can also be entered from I-75 by exiting west on State Road 64, or by US-301 coming in from the north.

It is a short drive from the southern end of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge that crosses Tampa Bay from St. Petersburg.

The city has a population of about 59,000, making it the 48th largest city in the State of Florida.

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HISTORY OF BRADENTON, FLORIDA

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The Bradenton area has a rich history that includes the Native American tribes that occupied the shore thousands of years ago.

Shaw’s Point near Bradenton was discovered in 1539 by Hernando De Soto on one of his voyages to the New World.

The first town in the area was the Town of Manatee, incorporated in 1888. 

Bradentown was incorporated in 1903. 

It was named for Dr. Joseph Braden whose fortress-like house had been a refuge for settlers during Indian attacks.

Dr. Braden had moved to the area from Virginia in the 1840s and established a large sugar plantation worked by slaves. 

The economy of the early Bradenton area was based on agriculture including sugar and commercial fishing.

The modern city of Bradenton was formed in 1943, when the town of Manatee merged with Bradentown.

The name of the new town became Bradenton, along with its new spelling.

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BRADENTON, FLORIDA TODAY

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Bradenton, Florida is surrounded by water, both fresh and salt.

It is
the access point for more than 20 miles of beautiful Southwest Florida
beaches on the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay.

Bradenton is located on the mainland on the south bank of the
Manatee River, and is separated from the outer barrier island beaches by
the Intracoastal Waterway.

These island beaches include Anna Maria Island with the small cities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach, and Longboat Key south of Anna Maria Island.

Old downtown Bradenton is located on the west side of the city.

Most of the office and government buildings in the county are
located downtown.

The tallest buildings in town are the 12 story
Bradenton Financial Center and the new 9 story Manatee County Judicial
Center.

The new judicial center is right next to the historic Manatee County courthouse built in 1913 and on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bradenton’s downtown area is delightful and loaded with museums, historic buildings, fine dining restaurants and shops. It is a compact area, and everything is within an easy walk.

The large downtown marina is the center for many water oriented activities including sailing and jet skiing.

Just south of downtown is Bradenton’s Village of the Arts.

This is a neighborhood district with special zoning that allows residents to live and work in their homes. The village has some unique art galleries.

The creative zoning paid off. About 50 once rundown houses have been
converted into studios, galleries, restaurants and other small
businesses.

Many of the small buildings are painted in beautiful bright colors reflecting every shade of the rainbow.

The Village of The Arts has attracted national recognition because of its innovative approach.

Bradenton was recently recognized as one of the Top 10 cities in the country for working artists.  This award was made by Art Calendar, a well known business magazine for visual artists.

BRADENTON, FLORIDA HOTELS

• Holiday Inn Express Bradenton West. This hotel is right downtown and is reasonably priced. 4450 47th St West, Bradenton, FL 34210. Tel: 941-795-4633.

• The Londoner Bed and Breakfast. Very neat, clean and cozy in the heart of downtown. 304 15th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34205. Tel: 941-748-5658.

BRADENTON, FLORIDA RESTAURANTS

• Pier 22 Restaurant. Indoor and outside dining on the waterfront. Good seafood and steaks, reasonably priced. 1200 1st Ave West, Bradenton, FL 34205. Tel: 941-748-8087.
• Central Cafe.  Good salads and pizzas, full menu. 906 Manatee Ave East, Bradenton, FL 34208. Tel: 941-757-0050

BRADENTON, FLORIDA ATTRACTIONS

• Manatee Players Riverfront Theater.. One of Florida’s finest community theaters. The Manatee Players are an award winning troupe. 102 Old Main Street, Bradenton, FL 34205. Tel: 941-748-0111.

• South Florida Museum.This is a one stop location for the museum, Bishop Planetarium and the Parker Manatee Aquarium. Location on Manatee River right downtown. 201 10th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34205. Tel: 941-746-4131

• ArtCenter Manatee.Located in the heart of downtown, ArtCenter Manatee is Manatee County’s premiere visual arts center. Nestled in the nearly 10,000 sq. ft. building are three galleries, five classrooms, an Artists’ Market gift shop and an art library featuring over 3,000 art volumes. 209 9th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34205. Tel: 941-746-2862.

• Manatee Village Historical Park, 1401 Manatee Avenue E., Bradenton, FL 34208. Tel: 941-749-7165.  This is an open air museum that preserves the heritage and history of the county.
• The historic fishing village of Cortez is located between Bradenton and Bradenton Beach.  It has several nice little bars and restaurants with fresh seafood. Quaint and scenic little working town.

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INTERACTIVE GOOGLE MAP BRADENTON FLORIDA

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Source: florida-backroads-travel.com

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The Bradenton City Council made things easier for developers to build taller buildings with more multifamily housing units built downtown within the next decade, by temporarily removing a requirement that 25% of those units remain priced at affordable housing costs in exchange for the density bonus.

The decision is meant to encourage redevelopment in downtown Bradenton. City officials said the requirements have stunted growth in the area, and on Nov. 1 voted 3 to 1 to pause for projects approved over the next five years. The vote also discounts parking garage levels above the ground floor from the limit on the number of stories a building may have.

The move comes as the council moves forward with plans to sell its waterfront city hall property to the L&L Development Group and partner, the Bradenton-based NDC Construction Co., for about $14.2 million.

The project, known as The Vias, is expected to reach 20 stories and offer a 130-room hotel, about 350 apartment units, about 80 condominiums, and 30,000 square feet of retail that would include a rooftop venue.

In case you missed it:Hotel, housing and retail development chosen for Bradenton City Hall site

NDC Construction President Ron Allen said the policy changes could help the range of pricing for downtown multifamily because developers are able to offset the high-cost land by building more units. He says the policy changes do not affect The Vias project, but hopes to see them draw other developers with major plans.

“It’s a noble thought and it’s a noble process,” Allen told the Herald-Tribune. “But when you get to the economics of it in today’s world it’s harder to finance multifamily when you start affecting a project by requiring a certain amount as workforce or affordable housing to get the amount of units you need.”

“The more you can have a piece of property go upward, the more opportunity you have to keep rents lower,” Allen said. “But if a project can’t make it because it has a workforce or affordable housing economic climate to it, and it never happens, then all of that tax roll goes away.”

Downtown Bradenton policy changes

Though the latest policy changes by Bradenton remove affordable housing requirements for bonus density, the city says it’s offset by the state’s approval of the Live Local Act in March. The state law allows developers to pursue the highest density allowed in the city if they include 40% of affordable housing, regardless of local policies, through 2033.

The city also cites the construction of affordable units with at least 700 new affordable and workforce housing units already built or coming between 2019 and 2024.  

“These two programs are complementary,” Bradenton Planning Director Robin Singer said. “The City anticipates that more affordable housing will be coming online as a result of the State’s program. The City is hopeful that this local height incentive will have a similar impact in encouraging market-rate units and the redevelopment of the downtown.

Allen said reserving the highest densities allowed by the city only for projects that offer affordable housing has hampered large-scale projects downtown because of questions about how it impacts the financial viability.

Instead, Allen said he believes steps to address affordable housing should be taken deliberately, but separately from major development efforts. His company is building one of the affordable housing projects in the downtown area. The Nine20 Manatee project will offer 137-unit workforce housing units in downtown Bradenton. The project was a recipient of a tax abatement, and a gap funding loan, to make the project possible.

“In no way would I say to anybody that we ought to not worry about workforce housing,” Allen said. “If we’re serious — and we’re one of those people that are serious, we’re doing workforce housing and we’re doing it in the middle of downtown — there should be an opportunity to do that in the same community without tying it to another project.”

Allen said the policy change that discounts parking levels above the ground floor from the limit on the number of stories a building may have also helps make major projects more financially viable.

“The other problem we have is that with every story you go up in a downtown your costs get greater because you have to create structured parking on almost every occasion,” Allen said. “Structured parking is so expensive that it doesn’t do you much good to go up 20 stories if you have to put five or six stories of parking.”

Stakeholders enthused about downtown Bradenton’s next steps

Downtown Bradenton stakeholders say the area is primed for redevelopment and would like to see the city continue to attract more businesses and residents.

Sharon Hillstrom, president and CEO of the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp., said the organization plans to collaborate with the city and community to create a new economic development action plan that includes both the downtown area and the rest of the city.

“Ultimately, the goal is to invigorate downtown as an attractive place for business location,” she said.

Manatee County is in dire need of a new parking garage for county staff in downtown Bradenton after an engineering report found safety questions in the existing structure last year.

Commissioners are moving plans for a new parking garage forward, and have expressed interest in capitalizing on the opportunity by finding a third-party partner, if one surface, who could potentially add a commercial or residential component to the project.

The county also owns the downtown Central Library and its property, as well as the former city hall property on Wares Creek.

Manatee County Chairman Kevin Van Ostenbridge, whose District 3 includes downtown Bradenton, said the parking garage project is not affected by Bradenton’s policy changes but is supportive of the city in its efforts to attract businesses.

More:This week in Manatee: New pools for Premier and Bradenton convention center upgrades

“More density could help the city attract more retail, or potentially a grocery store if enough people are able to live in the area,” Van Ostenbridge said.

Bradenton-based SUNZ insurance CEO Steve Herrig said he is also enthusiastic about the changes and would like to see policy changes attract more venues to the community. Herrig owns the SUNZ building, the Connect Central building, and several more blocks in downtown Bradenton, although he does not have immediate plans for development.

“Bradenton is starting to come of age,” Herrig said. “It has the right charm, it just needs more venues.”

Source: heraldtribune.com

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Detectives say they responded to the Arbor Terrace RV Park located at 55th Avenue Terrace West around 12:05 p.m. 

Manatee County deputies received a report of a disturbance in a mobile home when a woman was heard crying for help, according to authorities.

“This was certainly a horrible scene here,” said Randy Warren, a spokesman for MCSO. “Two people had been killed. It was a very gruesome type scene.”

READ: Man charged with first degree murder after deadly shooting in Brandon: Deputies

He was identified as 36-year-old Thomas Matejcek, the son of Patrica Matejcek, according to deputies. Authorities say he was taken into custody.

Neighbors who knew the victims spoke to FOX 13 and expressed their shock after hearing the news.

Source: fox13news.com

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Detectives said they responded to the Arbor Terrace RV Park, which is on 55th Avenue Terrace West at around 12:05 p.m. Friday. They said Manatee County deputies received a report of a disturbance in a mobile home when a woman was heard crying for help. 

READ: Lakeland family hopes driver in deadly hit-and-run crash is arrested: ‘He needs to pay’

Shortly after deputies arrived, one of them saw another man running away. Authorities said they apprehended the suspect, who they identified as 36-year-old Thomas Matejcek, along 14th Street West and took him into custody.  

Warren said they took the suspect into custody within minutes of him running from the scene. Deputies and the sheriff’s office’s K-9 unit found him in a parking lot outside a shopping center along 14th Street West.

Detectives are investigating what led to the homicide and the relationship between the victims and the suspect. 

Neighbors who knew the victims were shocked by the news.

Source: fox13news.com

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BELLEAIR, FLA. — Nelly Korda, a 25-year-old Bradenton native, has won the Annika two years in a row.

Korda’s been playing this game since she was 6 years old. Having her family here supporting her could bring her some luck for a three-peat.

“I love playing out here. For me, I just love playing in front of my family and feeling the support of the hometown crowd,” said Korda.

Korda’s athleticism runs in the family.

Her parents are both ex-pro tennis players, but these days you’ll find them alongside Nelly on the green—where you can also find her sister, Jessica, who plays on the LPGA. Their younger brother, Sebastian, followed mom and dad and plays professional tennis. 

“Just very wholesome lots of support from my family and friends and I feel very loved and just know that everyone’s in my corner so even if I have a bad day they’re still there,” said Korda.

Korda hopes to win her first tournament of the year, and if she makes a hole-in-one on hole 12, she wins a brand new Lamborghini.

“The hurricane last year made the green soft and receptive, but this year it’s firm and fast, so just see how the golf course is the next four days and hopefully make some birdies,” said Korda.

Source: wfla.com

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Source: abcactionnews.com

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by Dawn Kitterman

MANATEE COUNTY — The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office has referred the case related to allegations contained in a former Manatee County Administration Official’s whistleblower complaint to the office of State Attorney Ed Brodsky of the 12th Judicial Circuit. 

Before his separation from the county in August, former Acting County Administrator Lee Washington alleged in a whistleblower complaint that he was witness to “sunshine, ethics, and malfeasance violations” committed by two county commissioners—former commissioner Vanessa Baugh and current Commissioner Mike Rahn.

Last week TBT reported having confirmed that MCSO had opened an investigation into the allegations following a criminal complaint having been submitted to its office on the matter.

After completing its review of the available, the MCSO found “probable cause” that Florida’s meeting law was violated by the commissioners, and the case was forwarded to the state attorney’s office on November 2.

Neither the MCSO nor the state attorney’s office were able to provide any further information or comment on Tuesday, citing an ongoing criminal investigation.

The allegations stem from a series of events that Washington alleged occurred during his short time serving in the acting position. Washington claimed that Commissioners Rahn and Baugh conspired to pressure him into hiring their close friend and associate, BIA President John Mast, as a deputy county administrator.

Washington further alleged, that when he decided to close the open deputy position without hiring any applicants, Baugh requested Washington’s resignation. According to Washington, Baugh told him that “someone” would be making a motion for him to be relieved of duty but if he would resign willingly he could avoid a public dismissal by vote of the board. Washington declined.

A week later, Commissioner Rahn made a motion to remove Washington as acting administrator and to replace Washington with Jon Mast.

The three basic requirements of Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Law are: (1) meetings of public boards or commissions must be open to the public; (2) reasonable notice of such meetings must be given; and (3) minutes of the meetings must be taken.

According to Florida State Statutes, Chapter 286.011, 3(b), “Any person who is a member of a board or commission or of any state agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision who knowingly violates the provisions of this section by attending a meeting not held in accordance with the provisions hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree…”

Should the state attorney’s office find there is enough supporting evidence to seek prosecution in the case, such a violation can carry criminal penalties, including fines, up to 60 days imprisonment, and possible suspension or removal from office.

Source: thebradentontimes.com

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