SEBASTIAN — Suzy’s Tiki Bar on Indian River Drive in Sebastian has been given the green light for up to $15,000 in redevelopment funds to make improvements to the buildings’ facades and addition of landscaping. The Sebastian City Council is expected to take the recommendations under advisement at a future meeting.
Chris Pinson, one of the partners who own the riverfront bar, said he was happy with the Façade, Landscape and Signage Committee’s decision to recommend approval for the funds.
He had gone before the committee in December, which put off making a decision until more information could be provided.
Among the changes planned for the site is the addition of thick landscaping between the two buildings closest to Indian River Drive – an effort to keep noise from escaping the property, according to Pinson.
He explained that the music from the bands that perform at the tiki bar reverberates between the two buildings and then travels down the road, which has prompted complaints from area residents.
Pinson said he and his partners are looking at alternative configurations for the site that would necessitate the relocation of the band stand but they would prefer to wait and see what the Sebastian City Council does about its proposed noise ordinance before making any final changes.
Another project under the requested Façade, Landscape and Signage grant includes hiding what one contractor deemed the “cooler corral.”
On the north end of one building sits tall coolers, unshielded from the elements and from sight of passersby.
Lisanne Robinson, chair of the committee, said she felt the proposed plan was a “Band-Aid on a broken leg,” referring to a 6-foot fence and hanging signs that would camouflage the coolers.
“It’s just not gelling for me,” she said.
During the course of the discussion, Pinson suggested that he swap the fence for a wall tall enough to enclose the coolers and given the same type of siding as the buildings would have.
Committee member Carolyn Anderson said she liked the idea and that, provided the bar was improved the way Pinson had described and the way the committee suggested, it would have a wonderful environment.
The committee unanimously approved up to $7,500 for the façade improvements, including Pinson’s modification to the cooler enclosure.
As for the landscaping, the committee agreed to divide the project into two phases in an attempt to help Pinson capitalize on the grant funds.
At the most, Suzy’s Tiki Bar could receive a total of $15,000, provided the funds are available in the grant budget. After the façade grant, there would be $8,400 left – which another business, as part of its second phase, could try to claim, per City Council approval.
Pinson’s initial landscape grant request was for approximately $4,500 – what equates to 80 percent of about $5,600. The committee, again, unanimously approved that amount – as phase one.
The committee, noting that Pinson and his fellow owners have future plans to modify the band stand either by changing its location or installing more landscaping to serve as a noise buffer, then approved another $3,000 be provided through the grant – up to 80 percent of the receipts above the $4,500 amount.
One caveat was placed on the second phase funding, however. Only if the funds are available in the Façade, Landscape and Signage budget could the money be awarded to Suzy’s Tiki, pending City Council approval.
If the council were to approve the other business’s grant request, the full $3,000 might not be available to Suzy’s Tiki.
The grant funds are available for one year. Businesses that receive a grant must wait three fiscal years before applying for a new grant.
The grant funds come from the Community Redevelopment Area, a specially designated zone that receives funding from both the city and the county based on increases to property taxes due to values.
Each year, the City Council sets aside a certain amount of tax revenue from the CRA for the Façade, Landscape and Signage grants as a way to help businesses in that district spruce up their sites and make them more appealing to both customers and residents.
