City, Swift discuss future of Salt Ponds property
BY TIMOTHY O'HARA
Citizen Staff
KEY WEST — City officials and conservationists are in discussions with
tourism mogul Ed Swift about acquiring a prized piece of waterfront
property along the Salt Ponds, in exchange for giving Swift the rights
to build market rate units on other property within the city.
The rights, known as Rate of
Growth Ordinance units, could be either sold or used by Swift for future
development.
Swift is proposing to build
a single family home along the Salt Ponds, just south of the airport. A
local group of conservationists are worried about the proposed
development's impact on the Salt Ponds and on the continuity of the
Bridle Path. They are asking the city to buy three acres from Swift.
Only 1,400 square feet of the property can be built on, City Planner Ty
Symroski said.
Swift initially offered to
sell the land to the city years go, but the city turned him down. When
asked earlier this year to sell, Swift said no. Conservationists and the
mayor have been working on Swift since then and he recently agreed to
trade the land for ROGO units. Swift was recently asked by a city
official if he was interested in a trade. Swift could not remember who
the city official was, he said Wednesday.
Mayor Jimmy Weekley has
asked that the City Commission discuss the issue at Tuesday night's
commission meeting.
"I just want to get a feel
of how the rest of the commission feels about it," Weekley said. "I
don't want to put together a resolution if it is not going to pass."
Weekley has spoken several
times with Swift about the project. Local conservationist and Salt Ponds
advocate Joan Borel has spoken with Swift and the city attorney about
the proposal. Swift said 15 units could be a fair swap for the property.
"I have gone along with this
property," Swift said of the process to develop it. "It's a no-win
situation. If I build the house I'm a bum and if I sell the property,
people are going to say I asked too much and I'm a bum."
Market rate ROGO units have
been known to go for as much a $250,000, depending on their location,
Symroski said.
Symroski has concerns about
trading the ROGO units for the property, citing the amount of land that
can be developed on the property is a very small area.
"It's not a lot of land,"
Symroski said.
The city has 19.6 ROGO units
put aside in what is known as the "beneficial use pool," Symroski said.
Some of those are reserved for people who had buildings on lots, but
have since removed them and the city has encouraged them not to rebuild
there. The units could also be used for special projects or possibly as
part of a settlement in a lawsuit.
"I would not want to see the
pool dipped down to a lower number like one," Symroski said.
The city has spent a lot of
time, money and effort in recent years acquiring land and trying to
protect the Salt Ponds.
"It's the keystone of the
Bridle Path project," Borel said. "Mr. Swift and Mr. Weekley should be
commended for trying to find a way of preserving this property."
Borel wants the city to
begin working on a comprehensive plan for the Bridle Path, which could
include a nature trail and other outdoor activities, she said.
The city could use $500,000
in the fund to purchase what is known as the MacKay property, which also
carries building rights to one unit with it. The city receives 50 cents
from each visitor to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, with the money
going to a fund for Salt Ponds conservation. With the help of the fund,
the city has purchased three plots around the Salt Ponds.
tohara@keysnews.com |
