HomeCommunity NewsBradenton BeachDoes Bridge Street need...

Does Bridge Street need a redesign?

BRADENTON BEACH – Should Bridge Street be turned into a one-way street, be closed completely to vehicular traffic or remain as it is?

That’s a question the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the city commission want public input on before making any decisions. A public work meeting on the issue is scheduled at city hall on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m.

At the request of CRA member and Mayor John Chappie, this preliminary discussion occurred at the Wednesday, Jan. 9 CRA meeting.

“There’s been a lot of talk over the last several years: What do you want to do on Bridge Street? Do you want one-way traffic? Do you want two-way traffic? Do you want parking? Do you not want parking? We need to have some discussion here and in the community. We need to make some decisions,” Chappie said.

CRA chair and City Commissioner Ralph Cole said he’s willing to listen to the pros and cons of all options. CRA member and City Commissioner Jake Spooner said he’s visited other cities where the main street was closed and replaced by stages, splash parks and other public features. He noted those cities also have solid transportation options and adequate parking.

“It might be a little premature closing that street down without having that type of infrastructure already in place. But I think it would be a great thing to work towards,” he said.

Cole invited BridgeWalk resort owner Angela Rodocker to last week’s meeting and offered to contact every other Bridge Street business owner about the upcoming work meeting.

Emily Anne Smith, the CRA’s contracted architectural designer, is charged with creating a CRA district vision plan. She said there are many good options for Bridge Street, but access must be maintained for the mid-block post office.

The options could include a meandering, one-way traffic lane with trees and small park areas to the side. Or the street could be left as is, even though Smith doesn’t think it’s truly functioning as a two-way street.

She also suggested two-car electric trams to transport people from the free public parking south of Bridge Street at Cortez Beach and she supports giving all Bradenton Beach property owners their say at the work meeting.

Public input

Rodocker agrees that public input is critical. She thinks Bridge Street is a great location that could be transformed into a “true destination” – one that would be more pedestrian-friendly if reduced to one lane or no lanes.

“I’ve always envisioned Bridge Street being something different than it is today and I think a lot of people have as well. What we have now, it’s just not right. We’re functioning, but it’s not what it can be and should be,” she said.

She also cautioned against rushing the process due to self-imposed timeframes.

Bradenton Beach Marina president Mike Bazzy agrees with Rodocker and suggested the other Bridge Street business owners would too.

The marina is within walking distance of Bridge Street, but Bazzy said when he drives from the marina to the post office the street is often partially blocked by delivery trucks that he must swerve around, which he feels endangers pedestrians.

“Having two lanes there is probably not the best use,” he said.

CRA member and Anna Maria Oyster Bar president John Horne asked whether Smith needs to create storyboards to illustrate the possible options. Smith said that’s not needed yet, but she’ll provide simple illustrations at the work meeting – either printed on paper or created on a chalkboard in real time.

Chappie stressed the need for discussion, decision making and moving forward with the CRA vision plan: “The money’s there. With the incremental tax dollars we collect, we have an obligation to use those dollars.”

Chappie said no decisions will be made at the work meeting.

Later in the week, Chappie said he’s heard some initial resistance to any plan that increases traffic for residents on and around Bay Drive South.

Most Popular

More from Author

Anna Maria responds to county consolidation option

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria has responded to...

Ellen Scott celebrated

BRADENTON BEACH – Family and friends joyously celebrated the life and...

Anna Maria increasing vacation rental registration fees

ANNA MARIA – The city is increasing its occupancy-based annual vacation...

Charter review produces potential amendments

ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria Charter Review Committee has nearly...

Mangrove jurisdiction differs by county

ANNA MARIA – The outcome of the removal of 116 feet of mangroves to build a seawall at a Gull Drive home may have been different if the property had been located in Sarasota County instead of Manatee County. A contractor removed some of the mangroves prior to...

Bunny & Pirates Bazaar to close soon

CORTEZ – The closing of Bunny & Pirates Bazaar is imminent, but not by the choice of owners Elizabeth Shore and Jeffrey O’Connell. The news of the closing was announced by the two business owners on Facebook on March 16, two days after a notice to vacate was...

Anna Maria responds to county consolidation option

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria has responded to a March 5 request for information from OPPAGA regarding the potential consolidation and annexation of the city into Manatee County. The cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach received similar requests from the Office of Program Policy...

Jewelry Sale offers great deals for a great cause

HOLMES BEACH - For the second year in a row, the Anna Maria Island community has shown incredible support for the Island Branch Library. The Friends of the Island Library (FIL), a group of volunteers dedicated to fundraising and support for the library, held their second annual...

Ellen Scott celebrated

BRADENTON BEACH – Family and friends joyously celebrated the life and legacy of longtime Braden­ton Beach resident and honorary Privateer Ellen Scott at the Drift In on Saturday, March 16. Ellen passed away on March 1 at the age of 85. Ellen’s son, Bob Slicker, thanked those in...

Anna Maria increasing vacation rental registration fees

ANNA MARIA – The city is increasing its occupancy-based annual vacation rental registration fee from $84.17 to $93.92 per occupant allowed by the local vacation rental ordinance. The annual registration fee is estab­lished each year by the adoption of a city commission-approved resolution. The increased fees were established...

City Park renamed Jan Vosburgh Park

BRADENTON BEACH – The park across the street from city hall, referred to only as City Park, will be renamed after longtime City Commissioner Jan Vosburgh. The discussion of the naming of the beach access park just south of the Beach House parking lot was introduced at the...

Bird Tips

During bird nesting season, March through August, please follow these tips: Never touch a shorebird chick, even if it’s wandering outside a staked nesting area. Teach kids not to chase birds – if they’re disturbed, bird parents may abandon nests. Don’t feed birds – our food is...

Government calendar

Anna Maria 10005 Gulf Drive For information, call 941-708-6130 Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information. March 21, 1 p.m. – Charter Review meeting March 28, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting March 29, all day – City offices closed, Good Friday   Bradenton Beach 107 Gulf Drive N. For information, call 941-778-1005 Please visit...

Beach Nutz

       

Events

Wednesday, March 20 Creative Aging: Figure Drawing, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Holy Yoga, Roser Church outdoor stage, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 11:30 a.m. Nature Art, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 1 p.m., $10 Coral Reef Science with Mote, Island Branch...