MANATEE COUNTY – A proposed bill could bring a parking garage to Anna Maria Island.
“This is one small thing that the legislature has to do to step in to protect the rights of those folks that want to access their public beach that they paid for with their tax money,” said Rep. Will Robinson of District 71.
State Representative, Will Robinson of Bradenton proposed a bill that would pave the way for additional parking facilities on the barrier island.
“Parking issues are a disaster on Anna Maria Island and folks cant park on the island, they can’t visit the island, there’s many that work on the island that can’t even get to work so this one small thing would potentially allow a parking garage, a four-story parking garage which fits within the height limits of Anna Maria Island will in some small way alleviate the parking burdens that we have on the island,” said Robinson.
The plans for the proposed bill were announced at a public meeting on Thursday. If the bill were to be passed, Manatee County would be allowed to approve their own building permits for land owned by the County on Anna Maria Island. However, the parking lot for Manatee Public beach sits within Holmes beach, a parking garage proposal would be subject to the city’s regulations.
“That’s why we need a bill in the Florida Legislature to preamp that decision because I have to look at all the taxpayers and there are folks on Anna Maria Island but off AMI, many of my constituents can’t afford fancy vacations, they like to visit their family and right now they can’t and it is frustrating to me that we have not solved these parking and access issues,” said Robinson.
Although many residents favor additional parking on the island, some do not.
“I think a multilevel concrete structure would take away from the ambiance of this beautiful beach, so I would not be in favor of that,” said visitor, Maria Lanasa.
“Parking down here can get difficult at times but you just have to plan around it you just have to come down here earlier and get a spot or circle places, it’s a beautiful beaches from here so I think that would take away from the scenery,” said Bradenton Resident, Billy Wallace.
If approved by the house, the Florida Senate and Gov. Ron DeSantis, the law would pave the way for the county to build the garage on public parking lot at the end of State Road 64.
