RE The Shoppes of Sand Key XIIFrom: Everitt, Steven
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 4:05 PM
To: 'Bob Sperlazzo'
Subject: RE: The Shoppes of Sand Key
Please be advised that the applicant for the Zoning Atlas Amendment from the Business District to the Tourist District (REZ2007-10001) located at 1201, 1241, 1261 and 1281 Gulf Boulevard
will request a continuance of the case at the January 15, 2008 Community Development Board meeting. The applicant will request the case be continued to the February 19, 2008 Community
Development Board meeting.
Steven Everitt
City of Clearwater Planning Department
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Sperlazzo [mailto:bsperlazzo@juno.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 5:36 PM
To: inbox@pinellascounty.org; Delk, Michael; Clayton, Gina; Porter,
Catherine; Lopez, Geraldine Campos; ed@jpfirm.com; JayneS@jpfirm.com;
Everitt, Steven
Subject: Re: The Shoppes of Sand Key
To Whom it may concern,
I am writing to you regarding the proposed rezoning of the land which now
houses the Shoppes of Sand Key on Gulf Boulevard. As a resident of the
"community" of Sand Key, I strongly oppose the development plans that are
coming before you and the associated rezoning of the land. I selected the
word "community" carefully. It represents the feeling that the area
provides to both permanent residents, renters, and guest. The shops are
the "center of our local community." People routinely have dinner, pick
up last minute gifts, take the grandchildren for ice cream or drop off
dry cleaning. The shops provide a valuable service to the area.
With the proposal, the shops would be gone and additional visitors will
be in the area. One might think that this is a good change but the calm,
peaceful environment that we now have will start to become like
Clearwater Beach, busy, noisy and cluttered. Owners can now come to their
condominiums without the need to rent a car since everything for a short
term visit is available within walking distance. Many renters coming to
Sand Key do so because they have the lovely beach, yet a more quiet area
than that found elsewhere along the beach. Many of the owners and renters
enjoy the intra-coastal view with a morning coffee.
The proposed development will block the view and reduce the enjoyment
factor so many people have come to love, not to mention the value of our
homes. Furthermore, these shops provide a high level of AFFORDABLE
convenience that one does not associate with hotel shops and restaurants.
With the increase in taxes and insurance many owners rely on the rental
income during the year. The changes proposed and the construction will
make the area less desirable and may cause more owners to sell or worse
yet default on their property -- certainly not a good thing in this
difficult time.
Gulf Boulevard is already crowded with pedestrians and vehicles. More are
not needed. The roads barely support the current community yet alone
additions. Crossing the road is difficult even with crosswalks. Exiting
the parking lots is also a challenge particularly during the season. Can
the current infrastructure need to be upgraded support the development?
What will the impact of wind pattern changes be to other buildings in the
area if a 100 foot structure is built on the proposed site? I would
encourage the Planning Board & the Zoning Committee to review all of this
carefully before making a decision.
On behalf of myself and many others on Sand Key, I ask that you do not
approve the proposed zoning changes and keep Sand Key as it is today; a
lovely quiet neighborhood.
Sincerely,
Robert Sperlazzo
Unit #1005
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