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Indian Rocks Beach considers 'party house' crackdown
By HARLAN WEIKLE
Article published on Wednesday, April 2, 2008 |
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH – Planning a wedding reception on Indian Rocks Beach could cost more in the future, that is if there are more than 35 guests.
The City Commission discussed on April 1 what some consider a growing problem along the city’s beachfront community, so-called “party houses.”
As the housing market peaked and beachfront properties doubled in value, then redoubled, the urge to sell became irresistible to some owners and unlike many homes for sale inland, on the beach there were plenty of buyers ready and waiting. But these buyers weren’t looking for a place for their family and a two car garage; they were looking for a business opportunity, a “party house.”
Homes with a view of the Gulf of Mexico, beach access and a pool were snapped up and neighbors along IRB’s Commercial Tourist beachfront zone often found themselves next door to a house where there could be a party any weekend with bright lights, amplified music and revelers on the beach until all hours.
The community slowly turned to resemble a movable celebration with strangers seemingly partying continuously first at one location then another all year long.
Initially the commission established a noise ordinance and a curfew of sorts but the problem grew as enforcement became sporadic and subjective. Often complainants chose to remain anonymous, which as a Sheriff’s Office spokesperson explained, only results in the officers’ inability to take action beyond a simple warning.
The officers, she explained, cannot be the “victims” in a complaint. Without a named citizen to file a complaint an anonymous call or a secondhand call to a city official, which results in a complaint, it has to be treated as victimless and therefore no enforcement action such as a citation can be issued.
Several years ago the city passed an ordinance requiring a permit for any party where more than 25 celebrants were present. In addition the host was required to apply for a free permit for the event and each location was subject to a limit of four permits a year.
The problem arose when “party house” owners simply ignored the ordinance, depending on the lack of oversight and given enforcement restrictions.
Mayor R.B. Johnson asked city building official John Mortellite Tuesday, referring to the offending owners understanding of the codes, “Do they just not know?”
Mortellite’s response, “It’s my gut feeling that they know very well.”
In the end, the commission agreed it was a growing problem, which had no easy solution but one that would be dealt with and instructed staff to return with a recommendation; including revising the number of guests upward to 35 at which point the requirement for a permit was triggered. In addition, the city will begin charging a fee for that permit. Staff was instructed to poll surrounding municipalities to get a sense of the usual cost of such a permit.
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Article published on Wednesday, April 2, 2008
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