Bradenton CRA approves redevelopment grant for Cottonmouth; members weigh new sound‑mitigation aid

The Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Bradenton approved a redevelopment grant application for the property at 1114 Twelfth Street West, the home of Cottonmouth Soul Kitchen, and directed staff to return with options to address outdoor noise complaints.

Neighbors and CRA advisory members urged the agency to consider a targeted funding program for sound mitigation after months of intermittent complaints about amplified outdoor music in the Village of the Arts. Carrie Price, a member of the CRA advisory board and a neighbor of the business, said she supported the redevelopment grant but emphasized the need for compliance with the city’s noise ordinance: "We are supportive of them, but they also need to be in compliance with the ordinance that have existed this entire time."

The grant application approved is a redevelopment grant intended to repair and upgrade the building at 1114 Twelfth Street West. Todd Campbell, CRA coordinator, described the approved grant’s scope: "This particular grant would be the redevelopment grant ... it's specifically to improve the building itself," and listed work including new windows, roof replacement, deck upgrades and kitchen improvements. He said the redevelopment grant is capped at $50,000 and noted the applicant's expected investment is about $115,000.

David Shiplet, owner of Cottonmouth Soul Kitchen, told the agency the venue schedules live music more frequently in peak season and takes steps to limit sound: "During March, there's music at least 4 nights a week, 5 sometimes... the average between now and the end of summer is about 3 times a week." Shiplet said most sets are shorter than in the past—"an average night is 2 hours"—and that performances end by 8:30 p.m. on weekdays and by 10 p.m. on weekends. He described investments he’s made in sound equipment and some on‑site mitigation but said further work is costly and not yet complete.

Agency members repeatedly distinguished enforcement of the city noise ordinance from CRA grant work. Dr. Burton (CRA staff) noted that the noise ordinance is enforced by the police department and that the CRA does not itself enforce codes, but said the CRA can help the city achieve compliance through incentives: "The best way for the CRA to help the city along the process of regulating that code is through our grants and our incentives." Several members asked staff and planning to review zoning and enforcement procedures before crafting any new funding program.

Council discussion produced two formal actions. The board first pulled agenda item 4(g) for separate consideration; after discussion, Councilwoman (name on record as) Coachman seconded the motion to approve the redevelopment grant application for 1114 Twelfth Street West and the motion passed unanimously. Members asked staff to return at a future meeting with a proposal for whether sound mitigation should be offered as a general redevelopment grant category or as a new, standalone grant, and with details about zoning requirements and coordination with the police department.

The agency emphasized it preferred a proactive, incentive‑based approach—"a carrot rather than a stick," in members’ words—while also noting prior local examples where code enforcement and business mitigation were used to bring venues into compliance. Staff said they would consult planning and the police department and bring a sound‑mitigation grant framework back to the board for consideration.