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VOL 23 No. 11
December 21, 2022
The proposed development by Shawn Kaleta and Jake Spooner includes a hotel, retail space, rooftop pool, miniature golf course and more. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – A major development permit application and initial site plans have been submitted for the proposed development of a hotel complex at the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive South. Architect Shaun Luttrell submitted the land development code/major development permit application and site plan documents on Dec. 2. The permit application lists Shawn Kaleta and Jacob Spooner as the owners of the various properties associated with the proposed development. Kaleta is a well-known developer on Anna Maria Island. Spooner is a Bradenton Beach businessman and commercial property owner and a member of the Bradenton Beach City Commission and the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency. As a sitting city commissioner, Spooner would have to recuse himself from any commission discussions and votes pertaining to the proposed hotel development. The submitted site plan proposes 206,987 square feet of total development with a total of 103 hotel units. The ground-level floor plan includes a miniature golf course located along Gulf Drive South
New hotel complex proposed for Bridge Street SUBMITTED | CITY OF BRADENTON BEACH
This rendering provides a view of the proposed hotel development entrance. The vacant building at the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive (above inset) is among those that would be demolished to make room for the new hotel.
Rezone application comes under commission fire Commissioners are considering a commercial property rezone for the former Bank of America property. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – The owner of a former bank property is seeking to have his property rezoned to allow for a more intense commercial use, but commissioners aren’t sure it’s in the best interests of the city to grant it. Bob Bolus, owner of 699 Manatee Ave., and engineer Paul Blackketter appeared before commissioners during a recent work session to discuss an application to rezone the property from
C-1 to C-2. Formerly a Bank of America branch, the building has been vacant for several years and has been offered for sale for much of that time. Due to its C-1 commercial zoning, the property can only be used for a low-intensity venture, such as office space. Bolus said that he plans to keep the property but would like to have the allowable intensity increased to C-2. If approved by commissioners, a C-2 rezone would allow for a restaurant, retail shop or less-intense office use on the property. With the COVID-19 pandemic making work-from-home positions favorable for employees and busiSEE REZONE, PAGE 11
SEE HOTEL, PAGE 34
Mullet season in full swing Fishermen cash in on the bountiful harvest of mullet roe during cold weather. BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | lllake@amisun.com
CORTEZ - It might not be for joy, but the mullet are definitely jumping. Spawning season and cast netwielding fishermen anxious to make some Christmas money are a formula for a busy mullet season at John Banyas’ Cortez Bait and Seafood fish house. “It’s mostly local people bringing the mullet in to us,” Banyas said. “They’re out there castnetting closer to the cold fronts.” Banyas, a fourth-generation fisherman from Cortez, owns Swordfish Grill & Tiki Bar, N.E. Taylor Boatworks, Killer Bait and Cortez Bait and Seafood.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
John Banyas holds a mullet brought to the dock by fishermen. He has seven boats in his fleet but says he relies on people fishing from their own boats to bring the mullet in. The catches have varying degrees of value, with the real treasure being females with red roe. The egg sack from the gray mullet can be made SEE MULLET, PAGE 35
WINTER WEDDING
AME student saves entangled
season by the beach is here! 22-23
pelican’s life. 15
Page 31 Anna Maria Island, Florida
CORTEZ community center to be
dedicated to Mary Green. 29 The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com