Anna Maria rejects community center’s cell tower plan

Anna Maria City Commissioners denied a request by the Anna Maria Island Community Center to sublet its lease with the city and allow a portion of the property to allow a cell tower. The center submitted the request to sublet because the community center board thought the city wanted a cell tower on the center’s property because of the limited fall zone conditions at other locations in the city.

The community center board has selected a company to build a cell tower on the property but, according to city officials since the city leases the property to the community center, the board needs commission approval before planning to build a cell tower on the property.

The community center board is trying to make the center more financially self-sufficient and the monthly revenue from such a cell tower would help. The center proposed to share some of the revenue with the city.

The Anna Maria City Commission decided not to approve the plan, although they said the lack of a motion to approve or reject subletting some of the property is not a reflection on whether the city wants a cell tower.