An architectural rendering shows the new Beach Bungalow Hotel, 2000 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach. Islander Image: Courtesy Bradenton Beach building department
Bradenton Beach is processing a flood of rebuild permits, design revisions and new development proposals more than a year after hurricanes Helene and Milton.
City building official Bill Palmer, in a Nov. 10 interview with The Islander, reviewed major developments under evaluation.
“When we’re talking major development, I mean a lot of people think like, ‘Oh, you know, it’s a big, huge resort or something like that,’” he said.
However, that isn’t always the case.
“It could be something small… that doesn’t quite fit into the land development code … where you know it needs to be … considered a major development and go through the process,” Palmer said.
Projects include:
- Bungalow Beach Resort, 2000 Gulf Drive N., rebuild under coastal rules: The most active proposal on Palmer’s list is the Bungalow Beach Resort, a Gulffront parcel owned by Gayle Luper, who has operated the historic resort since 1999 and lost the beachfront cottages in last year’s storms.
Luper butted heads at city hall as she worked to reestablish the business but is now pursuing updated redevelopment plans.
Palmer said the city recently returned its initial round of technical comments for the plans.
“We’re just waiting for them to address them,” Palmer said. “The plans themselves look pretty decent.”
Because the property lies seaward of the state’s coastal construction control line, any rebuild must undergo review by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The CCCL identifies shoreline areas considered highly vulnerable to storm surge and erosion. So, the city must issue a letter of no objection before DEP can act.
- Beach Dreams home, 306 Gulf Drive S., variance needed after DEP rejection: A storm-damaged home, owned by Beach Dreams Resort LLC at 306 Gulf Drive S. hit a regulatory roadblock when the DEP rejected the owner’s submittal for crossing the 30-year erosion control line.
Palmer said a front-setback variance will be requested to shift the home closer to Gulf Drive.
- Playa Esmeralda Inn, 100 4th St. S., nonconforming motel rebuild: The Playa Esmeralda Inn was demolished following damages sustained in last year’s storms.
Palmer said it is possible for the owners to rebuild up to the original building volume, though a new structure must meet current flood-elevation standards.
Palmer said the project architect intends to seek a variance for additional volume.
- Gulf Drive Cafe, 900 Gulf Drive N., parking lot redesign: The parking lot south of the Gulf Drive Cafe tiki hut structure remains open as the permit continues through the city’s review process, which is awaiting the owner’s responses to building-department comments regarding DOT access, stormwater compliance and accurate parking-space dimensions.
- Alfonso Salvatore-owned property, 104 1st St. N., mixed-use cafe and duplex. A proposed cafe with a duplex above is in the design phase as the applicant works through landscaping, buffer and soils-report requirements, along with a shortfall of one parking space.
- Pines Trailer Park, 103 Church Ave., early-stage inquiry: At the Pines Trailer Park, an architect representing Pines Park Investors reached out to the city with FEMA-related questions.
Palmer said no concept or designs have been submitted or discussed for the property.
- Bridge Tender, 135 Bridge St., tiki concept. A concept for a permanent tiki structure for the Bridge Tender Inn Dockside & Tiki Bar qualifies as a major development, but no application has been submitted.
Palmer said the city is navigating the long tail of the 2024 storms, where storm damages, coastal regulations and the constraints of older lots continue to shape what can be rebuilt — and where.
At the same time, the city is seeing renewed interest in infill development.
So, while some proposals remain conceptual, others are poised to define the city’s next phase of redevelopment, Palmer said.
