Developer pulls 380 agreement before County vote
BY ANN HENSON
Citizen Staff
MARATHON — Confusion
over a contentious 380 agreement the County Commission was supposed to
vote on Wednesday ended in the developer pulling his project from the
agenda.
Carl Cataudella of
Boca Developers said he wants to discuss the project with county
planners and bring a proposal back for a vote within 60 days.
The developer has
proposed razing the Seahorse Trailer Park on Big Pine Key and building
40 units of affordable housing, which would be donated to the county. In
exchange, the county would let the developer transfer building rights to
the former Rowell's Marina property in Key Largo to build 130
market-rate homes called Marine Grande.
At the meeting,
Assistant County Attorney Jerry Sanders said the developer sent the
county a letter asking the commission to delay its vote.
Cataudella stood up
and said, "We never asked for a continuance. Instead of a 380 agreement,
we are asking to continue negotiating with staff with a development
agreement."
It is unclear why
Cataudella unexpectedly changed course during the meeting. When The
Citizen questioned him after the meeting, he seesawed again, saying he
didn't realize a development agreement would have precluded him from
transferring the building rights.
The county and state
have to approve 380 agreements as exceptions to county codes that
prohibit transferring building rights from one planning area to another.
The late Commissioner Murray Nelson had negotiated the agreement and set
it for a vote several months ago, but the issue was continued until
Wednesday. Commissioners David Rice and George Neugent said they would
not vote for it. It is unclear how the other three commissioners would
have voted.
Some county watchers
speculated the developer may be waiting for the county to act on a
proposed ordinance that would legalize 380 agreements, without
specifying how much affordable housing the developer must build, and cut
the state out of the approval process.
"If it passes while
I'm going through this process, fine. I'll take advantage of it,"
Cataudella said. "Our goal is to redevelop Rowell's."
The meeting room was
packed with people who wanted to speak about the plan. The Key Largo
Federation of Homeowners Associations opposes it, while Seahorse Trailer
Park residents have flip-flopped to become proponents. The developer
said he provided transportation for them to attend.
"He's using them for
his own purposes and I don't like that," County Mayor Sonny McCoy
complained.
Ignoring the board
attorney's legal advice, McCoy allowed only one person from each group
to speak, and denied the opportunity to Dennis Henize, representing Last
Stand.
A Seahorse resident
who spoke said the developer promised to pay for their trailers, provide
them with interim housing and give them first shot at renting the
apartments. The Key Largo federation says Key Largo would not benefit
from the plan, that it would increase density, increase hurricane
evacuation time, and be out of character for the island.
"This county is facing
the disappearance of marinas and mobile home parks, the things we say we
are trying to save," Neugent said. "I can't understand this."
ahenson@keysnews.com |
