ANNA MARIA – Some business owners are concerned about the city’s desire to extend the multi-use path along Gulf Drive that runs from the entrance of the city to Willow Avenue.
They say that extending the path to Magnolia or Pine avenues would eliminate the parallel parking spaces located along that side of Gulf Drive.
City officials are still awaiting word as to whether Gov. Ron DeSantis will approve or veto a $250,000 state appropriation supported by the Florida House and Senate for Anna Maria’s multi-use path extension project. The funding request is included in the proposed 2024-25 state budget not yet finalized by DeSantis.
The business owners’ concerns are expressed in a petition initiated by Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café owner Paul Foster. The petition was sent to DeSantis, Sen. Jim Boyd, State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. and Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge.
The petition was signed by the owners of Body & Sol Spa and Wellness, Snips Hair Design, Harry’s Grill, AMI Beach Hut, Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café, The Porch restaurant, Robinhood Rentals and John Cagnina, the owner of the Ginny’s and Jane E’s property leased to Foster, which includes a rear parking lot.
In part, the petition says: “There is a bill going to your desk that will hurt small businesses in the city of Anna Maria. We have, over the last number of years, seen a rapid decline in free public parking. Private lots turned into paid parking and projects like this extension of a multi-use path from a residential area into a commercial area, removed free parking in front of many small businesses. It not only hurts business, but it is dangerous to bring traffic like this into a busy corner. We have options that keep bikers (bicyclists) safe and keep businesses prospering.
“I implore you to use your veto authority and put a stop to the funding of this project. I am asking for a more thorough study on the impacts to health and safety, and to businesses directly impacted,” the petition says.
When speaking to The Sun on March 22, Foster said the concerns addressed in the petition stem in part from previous city commission discussions regarding the potential elimination of the streetside parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue as part of the yet-to-be-constructed Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvement project.
Eliminating the Pine Avenue parking spaces has been discussed by the city commission and supported by some current and past commissioners, but that idea has never garnered the majority support of the commission. City Commission Chair Mark Short and Mayor Dan Murphy are among those who’ve expressed concerns about the negative impact eliminating the Pine Avenue parking spaces would have on those businesses.
Eliminating parking spaces along Gulf Drive to accommodate an extended multi-use path has never been publicly discussed by the city commission or presented to the commission in a planning document.
Foster was asked if anyone representing the city ever mentioned to him the possibility of eliminating Gulf Drive parking spaces to accommodate an extended multi-use path.
Foster referenced a wide-ranging conversation he had with Reimagining Pine Avenue project engineer Gerry Traverso in 2021. Traverso is employed by the George F. Young Inc. engineering firm.
“Gerry never told me they were going to do this, but he did say the extension of the multi-use path would eliminate the parking,” Foster said.
“It would be devastating. If people are coming to a restaurant, they’re not going to use paid parking. They’re going to want to park for free. Up here, free parking is definitely limited and these 13 spaces in front of these businesses are their lifeblood,” he added.
When asked why he didn’t approach the mayor before petitioning the governor, Foster said he felt this was the most effective means to address these concerns.
FUNDING REQUESTS
The city’s $250,000 funding request is addressed in Florida Senate local funding initiative request 1512, sponsored by Boyd, and House of Representatives HSE form 2599, sponsored by Robinson. Anna Maria City Clerk LeAnne Addy said the city’s contracted lobbyist submitted the funding requests on the city’s behalf.
The Senate form asks the applicant to state the purpose to be achieved with the desired state funds.
The city’s response says, “The goal is to improve safety and accessibility along the city’s main artery for the key stakeholders – residents, businesses, and visitors – while addressing the impact of seasonal traffic. The project will make the city’s main street corridor more user-friendly by addressing safety concerns, access issues and aesthetic deficiencies resulting from the currently antiquated infrastructure along the street that doesn’t account for increased tourism.”
The House request form asks if the need for funds is documented in a study completed by an independent third party.
The city’s response says, “Yes. George F. Young Inc. has done a study on this as the engineering firm that is working on the project.”
The city response refers to the initial Reimagining Pine Avenue research Traverso conducted. Neither funding request form includes any drawings or plans of the proposed multi-use path extension area, nor do they mention the removal of existing parking spaces.
When contacted by The Sun on March 22, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said no specific plans for the proposed path extension have been created or presented to the city commission; and Addy said she wasn’t aware of any such planning documents.
FOSTER’S LETTER
The petition sent to DeSantis and others was accompanied by a letter written by Foster.
“We are very concerned with the city’s push forward with a multi-use path into a busy commercial area. All businesses along this strip will be affected negatively,” his letter says.
The letter claims the path extension would eliminate 13 parking spaces that currently serve more than 200 people per day.
“Yes, health and safety must be the number one priority, but this must be done with an eye out for our community of ‘Ma and Pop’ businesses that need to survive there. I think it’s important that everyone’s interests are looked after,” Foster stated in his letter.
After acknowledging that city officials have a tough job and their overall efforts are appreciated, Foster’s letter says, “I’m afraid they missed their mark on this one. There is still time if protecting businesses is as important to them.”
MAYOR’S RESPONSE
On March 22, Murphy provided a written statement regarding the petition and the business owners’ concerns.
“The problem we are trying to address is that people are opening their car doors into oncoming traffic on Gulf Drive and then walking in the road to go to the restaurants and stores,” Murphy stated. “We want to develop some ideas, and then plans, on how to best address that if possible. So, we submitted a funding request for $250,000 to help defray some of the costs of addressing the problem and then work on a plan. We want to find out if anything can be done to make Gulf Drive safer to walk and drive, more people-friendly and easier to shop and eat, not to eliminate the number of parking spaces serving that area.”
He noted the path extension planning process would include the solicitation of public input, similar to what occurred during the initial Reimagining Pine Avenue planning process.
“I’m not sure why Mr. Foster wouldn’t have called me about his concerns prior to launching into a petition campaign, but that’s his prerogative. I’m hoping the appropriation doesn’t get stalled and goes through so we can quickly get started on addressing this issue,” Murphy stated.
When asked if there’s enough available space along that side of Gulf Drive to extend the multi-use path and preserve the existing parking spaces, Murphy said, “Not currently.”
