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Residents can't live with livable community process
BY STEVE GIBBS
Upper Keys Staff Writer
KEY LARGO —
The Monroe County Planning Commission listened to admittedly frustrated
Tavernier and "Greenbelt" residents last month who were concerned that a
draft of the Livable CommuniKeys Master Plan does not accurately reflect
community character.
"We have a
ticking time bomb," said homeowner John Hammerstrom during the April 28
hearing in the Key Largo Library Community Room. "The principal goal of
the LCP is to get the community to define character. When a community
gets involved like this one has, the county staff should tilt the
balance towards the community's wishes. If the people want to paint a
green stripe down the middle, you should try to accommodate them.
"It's
incredibly frustrating and it's not right."
Community
leaders who have been active in the process to develop a master plan
that would direct future growth in the area offered several specific
objections to the proposed planned corridor enhancement segment.
The area
affected would be the segment of unincorporated Monroe County between
Tavernier Creek at Mile Marker 90 up to Mile Marker 97.
Carol Smith of
Tavernier objected to the plan's inclusion of a community swimming pool
at Harry Harris Park.
"In the master
plan there is a proposal for a swimming pool and community center," she
told planners. "That would not help our community character."
Smith said as
soon as a public pool was added to the park, crowds would increase
drastically.
"Neighbors are
overwhelmed on weekends by out-of-county visitors there," she said.
"Harris Park is not the ideal place for a pool."
Tavernier
homeowner and businesswoman Alice Allen expressed concern with something
several speakers found frustrating.
"I'm sad to
say I acquired this [latest draft of the master plan] at 10 a.m. I've
only had time to scan it, but it seems to dismiss what we had to say,"
Allen told planners.
Allen pointed
out that, for working people wanting to prepare, only one copy of the
corridor enhancement plan was available in the Key Largo Library.
"It can't be
checked out and it can't be copied. We're pretty much unable to review
it," she said.
Resident and
business owner Jill Patterson also expressed frustration at not being
given adequate time to prepare for the meetings. She said the planning
staff was moving ahead with a concept that does not reflect the desires
of the community.
"I have a
great concern that these items are being pushed by the wayside,"
Patterson said. "Community character is not being addressed north of
Burton Drive.
"Residents of
the Greenbelt want to keep retail stores out. ... We want no commercial
retail north of Burton Drive," she said. "In 20 years we will have a
strip mall the length of U.S. 1 if we don't stop it."
Before members
of the board spoke, Chairman Lynn Mapes said that, unless he is told
otherwise, he will push to conclude the LCP by the August County
Commission meeting in Key Largo. That would give the planning commission
three more meetings to work on the document.
The appointed
five-member panel also tabled an amendment to the county Land
Development Regulations that addresses fines and fees for those who
illegally clear sensitive lands.
sgibbs@keysnews.com |
