ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Fla. — An Anna Maria Island resident created a parking garage petition in an effort to convince Gov. Ron DeSantis not to sign a bill that would make way for a new, large parking structure to be built on the small island.

What You Need To Know

  • An Anna Maria Island resident created a parking garage petition in an effort to convince Gov. Ron DeSantis not to sign a bill, HB 947, that would make way for a new, large parking structure

  • The city passed a measure that bans any kind of large parking structure on the island, but this bill would override that
  • Those who don’t want the parking garage say there’s plenty of parking in the area — people just don’t know about it

Paving paradise to put up a parking garage is Morgan Bryant’s fear for the future of Anna Maria Island.

“Oh my gosh. It made me think of Orlando or these places … Daytona Beach … we’re not them,” said Bryant.

On the island right in front of Manatee Public Beach, it may look a little different if a massive parking garage with about 1,500 parking spaces is built.

The city passed a measure that bans any kind of large parking structure on the island, but this bill would override that.

“If you think about when people come over the island, you know, the first thing they’re gonna see is a parking garage. That’s not what people want or come here for. They want to see the beautiful water,” said Bryant.

The parking garage proposal started as a bill introduced by Republican Rep. Will Robinson, which passed in both the House and the Senate. All that’s missing now is the governor’s signature, and Bryant’s growing online petition is pleading with him not to sign it.

“On the petition, I’m asking that he vetoes this HB 947 that was unanimously passed in the Senate and the House. And kind of like why would they unanimously pass something without even knowing anything about our city?” said Bryant.

On the quiet beach with turquoise-colored water, at least one person on the island said she wants the bill to get the green light from DeSantis.

“I mean, we could always use more parking and it’s just getting more populated here, and it’s a beautiful beach. More people should be able to enjoy it,” said Anna Maria Island resident Michelle Mangus.

Bryant says the lack of research on the impacts of the proposed parking garage on the beach in the quaint town is another red flag. But those in favor of it say build it so that more will come.

“As long as we make it safe, I don’t see a reason why we shouldn’t have it,” Mangus said.