ANNA MARIA – Commissioners unanimously support the adoption of an emergency ordinance that formalizes a temporary Bean Point ‘no swim’ zone while still allowing a limited number of beachfront homeowners and their guests to continue swimming there.
Taking effect immediately, the commission adopted Emergency Ordinance 25-951 on Sept. 11.
To be replaced later by a permanent, and perhaps different, ordinance, the 60-day emergency ordinance says, “It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in swimming, floating, rafting, paddleboarding, kayaking or other similar water-based recreational activities in the waters of the Bean Point area defined as: ‘The shoreline and waters beginning at the Fern Avenue (Street) beach access, extending northward around Bean Point and eastward to the beach access between 831 and 833 North Shore Drive.’ Fishing and wading in water up to knee depth shall be permitted but discouraged.”
Public input given by Bean Point homeowners and others convinced commissioners to revise the proposed ordinance to allow Bean Point beachfront homeowners and their guests to continue enjoying the Bean Point waters now off limits to other Anna Maria residents and visitors.
At the commission’s request, City Attorney Becky Vose added language to the ordinance’s penalty provisions that grant approximately 14 Bean Point homeowners an exemption not shared by vacation rental guests: “Owners, and their guests, of homes that are not vacation rentals with riparian rights in this specific area are exempt from these penalties.”…