Drive down almost any street on Anna Maria Island, and what you’ll find are signs for weekly rental homes.

In recent years the island has exploded with tourists, causing many residential communities to no longer exist.

That’s why commissioners from Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and the City Of Anna Maria came together and formed the new group called "Anna Maria Island: Home, Sweet Home."

Their goal is to study the island and ultimately make it a better place for families to move to and live permanently before they lose all their residents  for good, said Bradenton Beach Commissioner Janie Robertson.

“We will not have any character here except large, mini hotels, motels, tourists and no one to really take care of the island itself," Robertson said. "People will come and go. They will use it. They won’t repair it, and it will eventually change in character."

The group will be looking for ways to sell the island as a residential spot. Holmes Beach Commissioner Jean Peelen said they hope their ideas will preserve their elementary school, churches and even businesses.

“If residents who are living here are saying, 'I don’t like the way things are going, I think I may need to move out' see that new people are coming here, it will encourage current residents to stay and new residents to come,” said Peelen.

During the group’s first official meeting, residents from the entire island will have a chance to express their opinions and tell commissioners why they’ve made the island home.

The first island-wide "Anna Maria Island: Home, Sweet Home" meeting will be Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. at St. Bernard Church on Holmes Beach.