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VOL 17 No. 40
July 19, 2017
City proposes state legislation City leaders are taking a proactive approach in trying to preserve local vacation rental regulations. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
Kristin Swain | Sun
An open view to the Gulf of Mexico shows where the lot was cleared all the way to the dune system protecting the property. A view of the lot cleared to the house being readied for the wrecking ball at 102 77th Street in Holmes Beach.
Seaward destruction sparks environmental concerns Construction at 102 77th Street remains shut down by the city until the Florida DEP completes its investigation into the destruction of mangroves, sea grapes and dunes. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH — Work has temporarily stopped at 102 77th Street in Holmes Beach after the city was alerted to some irregularities on site. Building Official Jim McGuinness visited the site July 7, placing
INSIDE NEWS OPINION Sun survey OUTDOORS REstaurants real estate sports Classified
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a stop work order on the property after seeing nothing but a cleared lot where mangroves, sea grapes, dunes and sea oats once stood. During the July 13 city commission meeting, McGuinness said he determined after reviewing the demolition permits obtained for the property, as well as one issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, work had been done that was outside of the scope of work. He placed a red stop work order tag on the property that he said will remain until a full investigation by the DEP is completed. A DEP field representative joined McGuinness at the property July 13, McGuinness said, and
Permits
Four permits for the property have been issued by the city — one to demolish the two-bedroom home, one for the silt fence around the property, another to install a pool and the last for the silt fence for pool construction. see dunes, page 24
see legislation, page 24
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Anna Maria Island, Florida
they both agreed that the dune area disturbed by construction far exceeded what was allowed by the DEP permit. He said next steps will be determined by DEP supervisors. “The city can’t do anything until the DEP comes back,” Commissioner Pat Morton said.
ANNA MARIA – The city is going on the offensive in fighting for the protection of Florida cities’ home rule rights when it comes to regulating short-term vacation rentals. City Attorney Becky Vose has drafted a bill that city officials hope will be introduced by supportive state legislators during the 2018 legislative session next spring. “Becky has prepared a piece of proposed legislation that says municipalities and counties have the right to regulate vacation rentals as though If we sit they are a commercial here and enterprise,” Murphy told the commission, wait, we’ll on Thursday, July 13. “Basically, what be playing it says is cities and counties can pass defense ordinances designating vacation rentals as again next a commercial use and regulate them accordyear.” ingly,” Vose added. Despite their commercial natures, the Dan Murphy state currently considAnna Maria Mayor ers vacation rental homes to be residential uses and state law limits how they can be regulated locally. “We’ve had these discussions about vacations rentals being commercial enterprises for several years, so I don’t think there’s any mystique here,” Murphy said. The mayor sought commission consensus to move forward with the efforts to get the proposed legislation introduced next year. This action is in response to two vacation rental bills that earlier this year unsuccessfully attempted to curtail local governments’ ability to regulate short-term vacation rentals.
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