The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Page 1

Crab season ends. 17 AsTheWorldTerns mourn lost veterans. 6

Louie’s honors in D.C. 18

Field day at AME. 28 MAY 23, 2018 FREE

VOLUME 26, NO. 30

Anna Maria plans doover on pier demolition bids. 5

Op-Ed

The Islander editorial, reader letters. 6

10-20 YEARS AGO

From the archives. 7

Meetings

On the government calendar. 8 AM incumbents to run in November. 8 Make plans, save a date. 10

Happenings

Community announcements, activities. 11 BB appoints charter review committee. 12 Traffic study details 5,071 parking spaces on AMI. 14 Force main work scrambles traffic. 15

Obituaries. 20 WMFR takes steps to increase assessments. 21

Streetlife.

23

Slow start to turtle season. 24

Fantastic flamingos. 25 Sports roundup. 26

Rainy days damper tarpon fishing. 27

ISL BIZ

Business briefs. 30 CLASSIFIEDS. 32

The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992

www.islander.org

Environmental group pushes for Cortez Bridge details

By Terry O’Connor Islander Reporter A Cortez Bridge study by the Florida Department of Transportation was a sham, according to ManaSota-88, a nonprofit devoted to public health and environmental issues. “This is wrong on every level,” said Holmes Beach resident Barbara Hines, ManaSota-88 vice chair and a member of Holmes Beach Planning Commission. “It appears they selected the most environmentally damaging and least popular alternative,” said ManaSota-88 chairman Glenn Compton. The DOT announced results April 23 of its Cortez Bridge project development and environmental study, which formalized its preference for a 65-foot-clearance, fixedspan linking Cortez to Bradenton Beach. “The repair alternative has the least impact on threatened and endangered species and environmental resources,” Hines said. “Why is this not the preferred DOT alternative? We can’t keep destroying the environment. This is just wrong.” Zachary Burch, DOT spokesman, did not provide a copy of the study, saying it would be released in July. The news release

A plaque announces the dedication by the Florida Legislature in 1965 of the Cortez Bridge — eight years after it opened — at the foot of the bridge in Cortez. Critics are saying the Florida Department of Transportation plans for a fixed-span to replace the drawbridge are flawed. Islander Photo: Terry O’Connor announcing the study results was two pages long. “We have looked at this issue since the beginning,” said Compton. “Not having that study to review, we have a lot of ques-

Bridge battles won, war lost

By Jennifer Glenfield Special to The Islander Motorists lined up on the Cortez Bridge in the early 1990s waiting for boats to pass through the open drawbridge were likely handed a flyer urging them to save Anna Maria Island. “You’ve Found Paradise,” one of the flyers read at the top, in green print. And, at the bottom, “You’ve just been handed the way to save it.” The flyers were printed by Save Anna Maria Inc., a nonprofit founded by island residents to challenge island bridge proposals they felt could negatively impact their community. Included on many of the flyers were calls for others to join their cause. The papers asked for a membership fee and promised an official membership card, a newsletter and to challenge to development. Incorporated in 1993, SAM was PLEASE SEE BATTLES PAGE 2

The Islander Feb. 4, 1998, announces the DOT decision to halt replacement plans for the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue and opt instead for repairs.

tions.” ManaSota-88 joins the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, Cortez Village Historical Society and city officials in Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach in questioning the DOT study and its choice of the fixed-span replacement bridge. The Cortez Village Historical Society issued a statement May 17 noting nearly 90 buildings in the village are certified historic structures by the National Register of Historic Places. “Each one of these and the rest of the village structures will be affected by the building of the proposed 65-foot-tall fixed bridge,” according to the CVHS statement. “How can the village remain historical with a huge bridge looming over it? The CVHS noted villagers have repeatedly protested building a high-fixed bridge. The statement calls for the DOT to consider a better alternative, building a new bridge linking the north end of Longboat Key with the mainland. “This would relieve some of the traffic from Cortez and allow the historic village to remain without the changes a 65-foot bridge would entail,” according to the CVHS statePLEASE SEE BRIDGE PAGE 3

Judge puts treehouse back into play

By Kathy Prucnell Islander Reporter A stalled 2013 case brought to the Manatee County courthouse by the treehouse owners in Holmes Beach has survived a motion for dismissal. The motion, filed by the judge in February, sought to dismiss the case because it had not been pursued by the owners. However, a motion for summary judgment filed March 13 by the treehouse owner’s attorney, David Levin of Icard Merrill, gave Arend a reason to keep the case active. Arend previously had noticed a May hearing for his dismissal motion, based on 10 months without action on the case. On May 14, 12th Circuit Judge Lon Arend ruled that Levin’s March filing on behalf of Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen met the legal standard of “good cause,” allowing the lawsuit to continue. PLEASE SEE TREEHOUSE PAGE 4


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