Bight project back on agenda
Planning
Board also eyes height restrictions
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you go: |
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What: Key West Planning Board |
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When: 6 p.m. Thursday |
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Where: Old City Hall, 510 Greene St. |
BY TIMOTHY O'HARA
Citizen Staff
KEY WEST — An arduous
battle involving a development project at Key West Bight heats up again
this week, as the city Planning Board tackles the issue Thursday.
The board will also
discuss easing height restrictions for affordable housing projects in
Key West's New Town district.
Caroline Street Partners
want to turn now-closed Jabour's Trailer Court into an upscale
condominium complex called Watermark. Developers want to allow buyers to
rent their units out to tourists.
Neighbors and developers
have fought for months about the size, height and architectural
compatibility of the project. The two sides have packed city meetings,
and opponents have filed lawsuits to stop the development. The
developers reduced the number of units, most recently from 33 to 26
units, but have increased the size of the units.
Neighbors claim the
project is too massive in scale for the surrounding neighborhood of
historic, wood-frame houses, and that the floor area and height exceed
city guidelines. Key West attorney Bob Goldman says the project violates
city rules that limit new buildings to 2 1/2 stories tall.
"This is a federal
penitentiary. Why would we want this in our neighborhood," Key West
Bight resident Sheila Rowan asked. "We don't want concession and
compromise, but simple compliance of the rules."
Supporters of the project
have said the four new buildings would look nicer than the trailers and
motor homes that occupied the space in the past.
The city's Historical
Architectural Review Commission approved the design of the project. The
city Planning Board has the authority to discuss mass and scale of the
project, definitions and interpretations of city code regarding setbacks
and traffic impacts.
Caroline Street Partners
plans to build two-bedroom, two-bathroom condominiums. The complex will
feature a day spa and other amenities that give guests a "decadent" and
"luxurious" experience, reads a Watermark sales brochure.
"We are comfortable that
we have done all we can and met all of the criteria of the city. We have
the support of the city planner and city staff," said Everett Atwell
Jr., a developer in the project. "We believe it's a good project for the
city and the neighborhood."
In other Planning Board
business, Mayor Jimmy Weekley has asked the board to start a discussion
on easing height restrictions in New Town.
The city height
requirement for buildings in New Town ranges from about 25 feet to 40
feet, depending on zoning district. To exceed the limit, a developer
must ask the city Board of Adjustment for a height variance, according
to a 1998 city charter amendment. The city Board of Adjustment would
then have to put it before voters in a general election, the charter
states. A height variance has never gone before voters since the
referendum amendment was put in place.
tohara@keysnews.com |
