BRADENTON — Residents of the village of Cortez can breathe a little easier now that the Florida Department of Transportation is changing its plan for 119th Street access.

Concern mounted after FDOT released plans to try for a reduction in vehicular congestion on Cortez Road by modifying the signal at the 119th intersection and adding medians which would restrict left hand turns in and out of the south side of 119th Street. The changes, based on three year old traffic counts conducted by FDOT contractors, didn't demonstrate sufficient traffic to keep access to the street as-is.

A new traffic count showed a significant increase in the amount of left turn traffic at the intersection, prompting FDOT to change its plans.

Gone are the planned median increase and turn lane restrictions. However, FDOT is still looking at three options for the intersection, none of which has emerged as a top contender as of press time for The Sun.

One option is to re-stripe a section of the roadway to provide a two-way left turn lane from the south side of 119th Street to Cortez Road and from westbound Cortez Road to the south segment of 119th Street. A second option, recently offered to the department by Cortez residents and business owners, is to use a segment of Florida Maritime Museum property to realign the intersection.

The third option under consideration is to do nothing, leaving the signal as-is.

However the department decides to proceed, FDOT Communications Specialist for District 1 Robin Stublen said the impact to the historic fishing village would be considered. Any alterations made at the intersection also will be considered in the replacement of the Cortez Bridge.

"We have not made a final decision concerning the Cortez Bridge," Stublen said in an April 17 e-mail. "We work closely with all departments so any planned changes in the Cortez Road improvement will be included in the bridge."

A public workshop for the proposed 119th Street intersection changes has been rescheduled from April 27 to 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, at the Cortez Road Baptist Church, 4411 100th St. W., Bradenton.

BRADENTON – On Thursday, May 4, Manatee County Commissioners will discuss the new general development plan and rezoning requests for the Aqua by the Bay development once known as Long Bar Pointe.

On Thursday, April 13, the Manatee County Planning Commission voted 3-2 in favor of the proposed development being consistent with the county's comprehensive plan and land development code. Timothy Rhoades, Mike Rahn and John DeLesline supported the development. Matt Bower and Al Horrigan Jr. did not.

County commissioners will consider the Planning Commission's recommendations when making their own decisions and a large public turnout is expected at the 9 a.m. land use meeting.

Proposed changes

Developer Carlos Beruff is requesting 191 acres of the 529-acre property between El Conquistador Parkway and Sarasota Bay be rezoned to accommodate 2,894 residential units and 78,000 square feet of commercial space. The developers seek height allowances for a 145-foot, 13-story multi-family building and a 75-foot, five-story multi-family building. The remaining structures would be limited to 35 feet.

The developers previously sought a marina and a navigation channel cut through coastal mangroves. They now propose a man-made "estuary enhancement area" and retaining wall that would encompass the coastline between the development and Sarasota Bay. The plans no longer reference a marina or channel, but the developers are pursuing a state-approved mangrove mitigation bank that could usurp the county's ability to continue denying those uses.

Beruff's attorney, Ed Vogler, said the project would have no negative impact on Sarasota Bay's water quality, submerged lands, seagrasses or fishing; no negative impact to mangroves; and minor disturbance to wetlands. He also mentioned a traffic study approved by county staff.

King Engineering's Misty Servia said 13 acres of low quality wetlands would be impacted and construction would be phased over 20 years, with six entry points along the parkway.

ECo Consultants' Alec Hoffner said the targeted wetlands consist of non-native Brazilian pepper trees, not mangroves. He said the estuary enhancement area would filter stormwater that currently reaches the bay untreated and include salt-tolerant grasses and vegetative components before transitioning to mangroves. He did not clarify the potential relationship between the estuary and a mangrove mitigation bank.

Staff and commission input

Joel Christian, the county's planning section manager, said all wetland impacts would be landward of the mangroves and have no impact on mangroves or seagrasses. He said staff originally had concerns about the estuary it now considers beneficial. He said the general development plan was conceptual and would be followed by more specific site plans subject to additional review.

Stephanie Moreland, the county's principal planner, said staff supports the plan.

Assistant County Attorney Sarah Schenk said county officials could not factor the potential mitigation bank into their determinations because state law prohibits the county from delaying development orders pending state or federal permits. However, the county has attached a stipulation that requires all state and federal permits to be obtained before development starts.

"I still don't know exactly how that applies to the future of this property and mangrove coastline," Bower said. "I don't think it's wise to move forward with the wall until we know what it might do. There's so much confusion as to what it's going to do to the environment and the fishery."

Horrigan said, "It appeared there was a channel left in the wetland mitigation bank that looks to me exactly the way I'd want to take my boat in there. If that's not what it is, what is it?"

Bower said, "I can't vision a 145-foot building; I'm certain the people of Tidy Island can't. I'm trying to get a good understanding why staff is recommending that is compatible; these high rises that do not belong there."

Moreland said the nearby Lake Flores project was approved for building heights of approximately 90 feet.

"I'm from the Bahamas. For me it's not strange to see that height of building because many of the hotels are on the water," she said.

"But you would agree this is not the Bahamas," Bower shot back.

Rhoades said, "Large projects are never perfect. With this project, we've seen changes and staff says every change has been an improvement, so I'm in favor of the project."

BRADENTON – Twenty Manatee County residents signed up to speak at last week's Planning Commission meeting, and all but one opposed the revised plans for the Aqua by the Bay development once known as Long Bar Pointe.

The plans call for a 145-foot building, a 75-foot residential building and a man-made estuary and retaining wall that would separate the development and the coastal mangroves along Sarasota Bay. The developers also want to rezone 191 of the property's 529-acres.

Representing the local Sierra Club, Stuart Smith said an online petition gathered more than 1,000 signatures and the county received nearly 200 e-mails opposing the project.

"The plan is incomplete because it does not include everything proposed. The proposed lagoon and seawall threaten the mangrove coast and violate multiple county codes. The proposed building heights violate the land development code and are incompatible with the area," he said.

Cortez resident and Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) board member Linda Molto referenced Congressman Vern Buchanan's efforts to obtain funding for an environmental program that benefits Sarasota Bay as one of 28 nationally recognized estuaries.

"I do not see where this project will help the national estuary program. I've been in the mangrove forest at Long Bar Pointe in a boat. I urge everybody who has not been inside there to go there before you make any decision on this project," she said.

Cortez resident and tour boat operator Captain Kathe Fannon said, "I take tours around the bay and show them Old Florida. I have never had anybody ask, 'Could you please take me to see a high-rise, or a shoreline where there's no birds?' If you approve this there's no Old Florida left."

Fannon also stressed the importance a mangrove-reliant ecosystem that supports fish, birds, sea horses, starfish and other marine life.

Thomas Reynolds, a commercial fisherman from Cortez, said, "This piece of shoreline is unique as a rearing ground. Late January through March – tiny mullet and bluefish show up by the millions. A full moon in October – horseshoe crabs show up by the drove and spawn like no other shoreline around. There are many examples of these occurrences and there's a good reason: that shoreline has a wide, shallow shelf that creates a calm ecosystem that these small, vulnerable fish and eggs need to survive. Digging trenches, building seawalls and docks will severely compromise this."

Fishing for Freedom President Mark Coarsey said, "If we keep attacking our shorelines we're not going to have any left. This is our last stand to keep something like it used to be."

Cortez resident, FISH board member and former County Commissioner Jane von Hahmann said the mangrove shoreline enables Cortez Village's commercial fishing industry to generate millions of dollars for the county.

"Any degradation of the area is strongly opposed, as we don't know the impact of this linear lagoon or the retaining wall. It's very construction will remove the shoreline and create a mangrove island with no upland for migration. Our own comprehensive plan demands that there be a 50-foot mangrove upland buffer."

Referencing a claim made by the developers' attorney, Cortez resident Joe Kane said, "There's no damage to mangroves? Somebody here is pulling your leg."

Echoing Molto's comments, he said, "Go to Long Bar Pointe by boat and go into it. It's like a cathedral of 200, 300, 400-year-old mangroves."

County resident Laurie Gale was last to speak and she offered a different perspective.

"I'm in the construction industry. I am looking at 20 years' worth of jobs. Everybody always thinks about the environment: the environment doesn't buy groceries, jobs do. The words 'public benefit' were used. I'm a member of the public and it benefits me to have a job," she said.

CORTEZ – Thanks to the efforts of James Frederick and Michael Ibasfalean, the schooner San Francesco is once again floating in front of the Seafood Shack restaurant.

With an assist from the restaurant and marina's management team, the 66-foot, two-masted wooden schooner rose from its resting place on the bottom of the waterway on the evening of Tuesday, April 11.

Two questions now remain: Will the schooner stay afloat and what will happen to it?

On Sunday night, a breaker for the dockside electrical outlet popped. This caused the electric pumps to stop running and the ship to take on water. Property Manager Joe Seely and Dock Master Eddy fetched a gasoline-powered pump that helped remove the water, and the schooner was still floating Monday morning.

What next?

Standing aboard the schooner with Frederick last Wednesday, Seafood Shack Chief Operating Officer Jed Lippincott said, "We're elated, excited and relieved. They did an exceptional job. These two gentlemen have full-time jobs, and they came here on their days off to help us out."

As for what comes next, Lippincott said, "We're taking it one step at a time. Step one was to get it floating. Step two is to dry it out and see what the condition of the wood is on the inside. Once we have that information, we'll be able to go to step three."

Lippincott hopes to make those decisions this week. The Seafood Shack has other plans for the dock space, but those plans were not revealed. Lippincott said the city of St. Petersburgh expressed interest in the schooner, but that depends on whether she is seaworthy enough to make that trip. A private party also expressed interest.

"It's all going to depend upon the condition and if it's moveable. The leaking is down to a dribble, but even a dribble's not good when you're talking about a boat," he said.

The dive team

Frederick and Ibasfalean are old friends who in recent years became interested in scuba diving. Frederick works in the construction industry and serves in the Florida National Guard. Ibasfalean is a deputy with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and he also serves in the National Guard.

Using scuba gear, Frederick and Ibasfalean spent most of last Monday and Tuesday tacking plastic tarps and industrial strength plastic wrap to the hull and the sides of the wooden schooner built in Italy in the 1870's.

Around 6 p.m. Tuesday night they started pumping the water out of the sunken ship.

"We had to get a bigger pump because the two-inch pumps weren't doing it. We went and got a hydraulic pump off the family fishing boat," Ibasfalean, a Cortezian, said.

Shortly after 8 p.m., the ship came up.

"We're excited and I know the Shack is excited. We wanted to be known as the guys that got this thing up and kept it up," Frederick said, noting that this was the pair's first project of this nature.

"We put our heads together, worked fast and worked hard. We knew it was going to happen all along," Ibasfalean said.

On St. Patrick's Day, former schooner owner Rick Stewart bowed to increased pressure to raise or remove the ship that sank twice last year and he signed over ownership to the Seafood Shack.

"I wish them well. I hope they can do something good with her for the people to enjoy," he said on Friday.

ANNA MARIA – Easter came early for hundreds of children and their parents Saturday at the Sandbar restaurant and on Pine Avenue.

The action began at 9 a.m., as hundreds of early bird parents and their children showed up for pastries, compliments of the Sandbar restaurant and Hometown Desserts, at the pavilion by the restaurant. Then everyone lined up around three rectangular, taped-off areas containing colorful Easter eggs strewn about in the sand. Armed with bags and baskets, the kids eagerly awaited the signal to begin the 2017 Chiles Group and AMI Sun Newspaper Easter Egg Hunt.

The signal wasn't quite loud enough for all the kids to hear, however, so instead of starting in stages all the kids in all the groups made a mad dash for eggs at the same time.

The ensuing frenzy turned into great – though chaotic – fun and left everyone exhausted, but with smiles on their faces and eggs in their baskets.

Fittingly, the Easter Bunny took charge and lined up all the participants for a leisurely parade down Pine Avenue and the highly anticipated Easter egg roll, Easter bonnet contest, face painting and a chance to have their picture taken with the Bunny of the hour.

Local performer John Rinell supplied live music with an Easter flair, and Chiles Group personnel served more breakfast snacks, juice and mimosas.

There was ample time for the bonnet contestants to circulate through the crowd, giving all a good look at this year's crop of incredible hats.

Todd Ramquist took first place among the adults with his costume that looked like Big Bird with spinning whirligigs and pipes coming out of his hat. Bridget Putnam took second place with live flowers sprouting from her pink bonnet. And Tony Simpson's took third with his red hat complete with bouquets surrounded by a small, white picket fence and a stuffed manatee doll attached.

In the children's competition, Savannah Coba took first place with a sand dune hat with yellow chicks and a Happy Easter sign in her bonnet. Benjamin Pupin's pirate-themed hat took second place, and Ava Simpson's third place winner sported some evergreen foliage with Easter eggs attached and a picture of a white rabbit with a sign that read, "Wanted, Peter Cottontail."

Its was a morning of fun for all ages and one women summed it up saying, "My daughter has been working on her bonnet for the last six months."

Tampa Bay Lightning Coach Jon Cooper was there with his family, and Sandbar owner Ed Chiles summed up his feelings saying it was a morning of old-fashioned fun, which has been going on for many years on Pine Avenue.

HOLMES BEACH — There's a $1 million pot of money, and each Island city wants to get a cut before it's gone.

The pot of money in question is the concession fund, a Manatee County-managed account containing the three Island cities' cut of the county's share of profits from the public beaches concessionaires.

As of April, the account contained $1,097,872 in unused funds.

The amount doesn't include an estimated $10,000 expenditure for a proposed fitness trail in Bradenton Beach.

"It's troubling the money has been sitting here and no one is asking for anything," Commissioner Jean Peelen said. "This kind of money could disappear overnight."

"I know every city has some idea of what they'd like to do," Commissioner Judy Titsworth said.

The concession funds are earmarked for public benefit projects with the caveat that all three Island cities agree on the use of funds.

Mayor Bob Johnson circulated a list of proposed projects from each of the Island cities.

On the Holmes Beach list, commissioners specified several projects including vegetation planting at Spring Lake Park, mats for handicap access to public beaches, improvements to the skate park and changes at the baseball field.

The beach mats project was added at Peelen's request to assist the mobility impaired in traversing the soft sand to the water's edge.

According to Peelen, the beach mats are removable and can be rolled up during sea turtle nesting season and to allow for beach raking.

"I think it would be such a lovely thing to do," she said.

Titsworth suggested the city push for funds to revamp the skate park.

"It desperately needs upgrading and improving," she said.

Titsworth also brought up using some of the funds to pay for lighting at the baseball field and make the infield smaller so it could be used by senior and Little League teams.

"I don't want to throw good money after bad," Commissioner Jean Peelen said. "There's no demand for baseball games on the Island."

Commissioner Marvin Grossman had another idea for the seldom-used baseball field.

"I want a drone race track," he joked.

Commissioner Carol Soustek brought up possibly using the funds to help build a local bicycle path instead of funding it with city money.

"People like the wide sidewalks, but they don't want to use city funds that could be beneficial elsewhere," she said.

After much discussion, commissioners agreed to pursue county funds for the beach mats but leave it on their list of potential projects. Discussion will continue to determine which project the city wants to pursue first for concession funds.

HOLMES BEACH – A decline in tourism on Anna Maria Island in January and February could be due in part to European perceptions that the U.S. is becoming more isolationist, according to the county's tourism consultant.

The "Trump effect" may have played a role in the unusual downturn in the first half of the four-month peak tourism season on the Island, Walter Klages, of Tampa-based Research Data Services, told the Manatee County Tourist Development Council on Monday.

Occupancy was down about 1 percent countywide in January and 2 percent in February, Klages said.

On the Island, tourist tax collections in January were down 16 percent in Anna Maria, 7 percent in Bradenton Beach and 24 percent in Holmes Beach in January, according to statistics from the Manatee County Tax Collector's office. In February, Anna Maria collections declined about 1 percent, Bradenton Beach was up about 1 percent and Holmes Beach was down about 4 percent.

"We had some softness in the European markets due to Brexit," the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union, Klages said.

However, the "contractions" in visitation were only slight variations on a definite upward trend, he said, pointing out that occupancy remained in the 90th percentile during the downturn.

"We have the best product," he said, particularly in the safety and security of the destination.

The county will not see significant growth in the next few months, he said, predicting that summer should be healthy, and UK visitation should begin restabilizing by fall.

The German market remains stable, with about 2 percent growth so far this year, he said, and the domestic market also is solid, with Canadians visiting slightly less.

In 2016, tourism was worth $556 million to the county, up more than 8 percent from the previous year, according to Klages.

Island congestion critical

Despite the downturn, "We had a very rough season this year," TDC Chair Carol Whitmore said, adding that Anna Maria Island has reached the "tipping point" where visitation is adversely affecting the character of the Island for residents and visitors.

The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau continues to steer domestic advertising away from peak tourist season to help relieve congestion, director Elliott Falcione said, warning that less advertising to the area's affluent target market is resulting in visitors who cannot afford to spend as much money here. The CVB continues to advertise internationally during tourist season, as overseas visitors book several months in advance, he said.

A trolley app would increase ridership on the Island, TDC member Ed Chiles suggested, adding that the proposed water taxi and a fixed span bridge with emergency lanes also will help congestion.

Residents should contact legislators to obtain FDOT funds for wider roads and more bridges, TDC member Jack Rynerson said.

In other business:

• The TDC voted unanimously to recommend that the Manatee County Commission consider spending up to $1.5 million in tourist tax funds in a 50/50 match over five years to assist the Florida Rail Road Museum in Parrish in a project to expand its covered exhibit space for vintage rail cars, possibly including Ringling circus cars. The museum hosts events for Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving in addition to its regularly scheduled runs.

• The council approved a motion to recommend to the county commission that the timeline for the boathouse construction at Nathan Benderson Park be extended until December 2020.

• The CVB and county are working toward collecting tourist taxes from online vacation rentals such as Airbnb and VRBO, Falcione reported. The City of Anna Maria already requires registration of Airbnb rentals, a policy in jeopardy in the Florida legislature this session, TDC member and Anna Maria Commissioner Doug Copeland said.

ANNA MARIA – The city now has a $35.8 million 10-year capital plan in place.

On April 6, city commissioners adopted a resolution presented by Mayor Dan Murphy that formalizes the city's long-range plans regarding capital improvements to address infrastructure, coastal conservation, traffic circulation and city facility needs.

City Engineer Lynn Burnett, Public Works Manager Dean Jones, City Clerk LeAnne Addy and volunteer financial consultant John Chambers assisted Murphy in the creation of the plan that was based in part on input previously provided by city commissioners.

The plan includes $11.4 million for street improvements, $5.2 million for property acquisition, $3.3 million to expand and renovate city hall, $2.7 million for new beach accesses and Gulf Park improvements, $2.1 million for Belle Haven Park improvements including kayak access, $2 million for the city pier rehabilitation, $1.36 million for City Pier Park build out and improvements, $400,000 for a water taxi landing and $233,676 for traffic signals on Gulf Drive.

The plan identifies projects as ongoing, short-term, mid-term or long-term and Murphy said adopting the resolution was a preliminary step in creating a plan that will be further revised during the fiscal year budget planning process later this year.

When addressing the commission, Burnett described the plan as a living, breathing document that would require annual review during the budget planning process.

As for how the projects will be funded, Murphy said, "We haven't fully developed the revenue portions yet. That still needs to be identified, and the funding will come from several different sources. The capital plan will be revisited after the revenue sources are identified."

One of the revenue sources could include an occupancy-based special assessment program for property owners.

The commission expressed unanimous general support for the plan, but the members suggested some modifications.

Commissioner Brian Seymour said he opposed adding more traffic lights to the city, and it was agreed that alternatives such as roundabouts would be considered.

"I really don't think traffic signals are right for our city," Seymour said.

Commissioner Dale Woodland suggested the expansion of city hall be recategorized from a long-term project to an ongoing or short-term project. Expanding city hall would allow the entire city workforce to operate from a central location, as opposed to the three locations currently used.

Murphy said adding a $3.3 million city hall expenditure to the $2 million pier rehabilitation as a short-term priority might present financial challenges. Commissioner Doug Copeland suggested city hall expansion be categorized as mid-term project embarked upon in five years or so.

When Seymour asked Murphy if he still hoped to relocate the Public Works Department headquarters to Holmes Beach, Murphy said that was still his desire but nothing was imminent.

Copeland asked that the capital plan to include a Pine Avenue redesign that would address the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. There are currently sections of the Pine Avenue business district that do not have sidewalks or a safe area for bicyclists to ride.

"That's where all our action is. I basically don't drive down Pine Avenue if I can avoid it this time of year," Copeland said.