On August 13, 2025, the Bradenton City Council will vote on several items regarding the
expansion of Westminster Point Pleasant, significantly impacting the future of Point Pleasant.
We need your voice to speak up to protect our safety, comfort, and peace in our beautiful
community! This will be the final vote on the following items:
Ordinance 4037: Rezoning: Westminster is asking to rezone its current zoning classification from
T4-O (General Urban Open) and T4-R (General Urban Restricted) to T-5 (Urban Center). In plain
English, this means:
- Allowing the possibility for hotel uses on the property
- Larger buildings (up to 12 stories from current maximum of 6 stories)
- Buildings closer to the curb
- More intensive traffic on already crumbling infrastructure and noise
- More stress on already stressed sewage system
Ordinance 4036: Land use change on 15.9 acres where Westminster Point Place is located from
High Density Residential to Urban Central Business District. This means:
- Increasing the number of units from the current 15 units per acre up to a
potential 40 units per acre - Potentially allowing over 13 times as much commercial square footage on
the property
Ordinance 4035: Allows consideration of developments which increase residential density in the
Coastal High Hazard Areas
- Affects 28% of the city’s total land area, including Point Pleasant
- Right now the City does not allow increases to residential density in its
coastal high hazard areas. This proposal allows an exception when it is for
“downtown revitalization”. How does that account for safety?
We need your letters and voice at the hearing to explain why these changes are not a good
decision for the community. In particular, we need your voice to tell the City Council why the
Point Pleasant rezoning (Ordinance 4037):
- It is incompatible with our neighborhood: problems with traffic, noise, safety,
character, decreased greenspace, aesthetics - Inadequate public facilities in the area: Tell them about issues you have
experienced with inadequate streets, broken lift stations, sewage in the
streets, and flooding in our immediate area - Why it conflicts with the public health, safety, and welfare: Why it isn’t a
good fit for our treasured Point Pleasant Historic District
Please contact us for additional information at [email protected].
Here’s a short “Do’s and Don’ts” list to share with those who would like to participate:
Your personal experiences, photos, anecdotes, videos, and details are important and must be
considered. Focus your comments on one or more of the following:
➔ Why the proposed rezoning is incompatible with the neighborhood character,
neighborhood charm, and history
➔ What makes your neighborhood special and how this proposal will erode its history and
character.
➔ Why the current infrastructure can’t support the rezoning, including specific stories
about issues with flooding, traffic, safety, emergency services). Example: you can say- on
xyz date, I witnessed flooding on my property, which has gotten worse over the years (by
amount of times flooding, days it takes to drain, depth of floodwaters, increased special
damages) because of new building in area (the more specific the better)
Do’s
- Focus on one or more of the topics above, tailoring it to whatever is most personal and
compelling to you. - Be concise. You will have 3 minutes. Practice beforehand and ideally, practice to say
everything at 2 minutes, 45 seconds, which gives a little leeway. - Include specific personal experiences, photos, maps, stories, and documents.
- Bring printed copies of photos to show at hearing.
- Make sure to sign in when you get there and make it clear that you plan to speak. If you
have photos or other visuals, its best to print them out and present hard copies to the
planning commission. There are 12 members plus the clerk so make sure to bring
enough for everyone
Don’ts
- Do not focus on general opinions or broad ideas.
- Don’t try to testify as an expert on something unless you genuinely are one. (Don’t say
“river needs to be restored, hydrology is wrong. Instead, say “I witnessed this flood
happen on this date, ect., see above) - Do not attack any member of the commission or staff.
- Do not speculate facts. It is better to say you don’t know if a member of the commission
puts you on the spot. - Do not bring inflammatory signs that say things like “Don’t turn my neighborhood into a
cesspool” Instead, bring individually printed photos of dirty floodwaters backed up with facts on
when you witnessed it, how long it took to drain, if it smelled bad, etc. Don’t say it. Show it!
Bradenton City Council and Planning Commission Contacts
**Let your voice be heard**
Contact City Council and Planning Commission
101 Old Main Street
Bradenton, FL 34205
Bradenton City Council
Mayor- Gene Brown, 941-932-9450, [email protected]
Ward 1 – Jayne Kocher, 941-932-9448, [email protected]
Ward 2- Marianne Barnebey, Vice Mayor, 941-932-9449, [email protected]
Ward 3- Kemp Schuessler, (941) 932-9453, [email protected]
Ward 4- Lisa Gonzalez Moore, 941-9932-9454, [email protected]
Ward 5- Pam Coachman, 941-932-9455, [email protected]
Bradenton City Planning Commission
Robin Singer, Director, [email protected]
Greg DeLong, Assistant Director, [email protected]