A beach parking garage is coming to Anna Maria Island. Here are 7 things to know
A new parking garage on Anna Maria Island could be the end of a yearslong saga between Holmes Beach and Manatee County Government over access to the beach.
On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that allows county officials to build a garage within Holmes Beach’s city limits without asking the city for permission. The move could be seen as a win for beachgoers, but island leaders say the garage will only create more problems.
Since 2020, the city of Holmes Beach and Manatee County have battled over changes to parking availability on the island.
At the time, city leaders removed parking spaces that had been available in order to curtail certain problems, such as littering, blocked driveways and more, but county officials argued that they had overstepped.
The proposed parking garage marks the latest chapter in the ongoing debate. Here’s what you need to know.
Where will the parking garage go?
The bill specifically states that Manatee County Government may build a garage on land that it already owns in Holmes Beach.
The county’s early plans call for the parking garage to be built on top of the current parking lot at Manatee Public Beach, which is owned by the county.
Construction of the facility is likely to shut down the parking lot while building operations are underway.
How tall will the parking garage be?
According to the bill, the garage will have a maximum height of 36 feet, which equates to a three-story garage.
Opponents of the proposed garage have argued that the structure does not match the character of Anna Maria Island, which is known for its small-town feel and lack of high-rise condos. As they determined the building’s restrictions, local lawmakers said they balanced the size of the garage with those concerns.
“I appreciate the complexion of our island. The height restrictions and everything keep it Old Florida. I like it that way,” state Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, said in a recent interview with the Bradenton Herald. “I just want to make available a place for people to park.”
How many spaces will the garage have?
Based on the maximum size of the garage, it is expected to provide roughly 1,500 parking spaces, which would be about four times the current capacity of Manatee Public Beach.
According to county staff, the parking lot now has 381 parking spaces.
When will the garage be built?
The timing of construction is unknown. The bill allows Manatee County Government to issue its own building permit for the garage without seeking approval from Holmes Beach, which should speed up the process.
However, a parking garage has not been designed yet, and it’s unclear when the Manatee County Commission will move forward with plans to build the garage.
How will Manatee County pay for the garage?
The garage is expected to be covered by tourism taxes, a fee that visitors pay when they stay in local hotels or short-term rentals.
Tourism taxes, which have recently been used to improve Bradenton Beach’s City Pier and support Mote Marine’s Science Education Aquarium, may be used on certain projects that promote tourism in Manatee County.
How much will the garage cost?
Early estimates say the Anna Maria Island parking garage could cost around $45 million.
Will parking still be free?
Besides the turquoise waters and the beautiful sunsets, free parking on Anna Maria Island is one of the beach’s main attractions.
That perk could come to an end at one of Manatee County’s beaches when the three-story parking garage opens. No final decisions have been made, but the garage could mark the beginning of county officials charging visitors to park on the island.
In previous discussions, commissioners have suggested that parking in the garage might cost money. Paid parking has not been approved or finalized by the Manatee Board of County Commissioners.
A decision on paid parking is expected to come at a later date.
