12/04/2001 - Public MeetingPUBLIC MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
December 4, 2001
Present: Ed Hart Vice-Mayor/Commissioner
Whitney Gray Commissioner – arrived 7:45 p.m.
Hoyt P. Hamilton Commissioner
William C. Jonson Commissioner
Also present: William B. Horne II Interim City Manager
Garry Brumback Assistant City Manager
Ralph Stone Assistant City Manager
Cyndi Tarapani Planing Director
Brenda Moses Board Reporter
To provide continuity, the following minutes are in summary form and are not necessarily listed in order.
Assistant City Manager Ralph Stone opened the public meeting at 6:43 p.m. to solicit input regarding the amendments to Beach by Design at the Harborview Center, 300 Cleveland Street.
Planning Director Cyndi Tarapani said the proposed amendments revise the Marina Residential District provisions including, but not limited to, land consolidation, height and City incentive
options, and the height provisions of the design guidelines as they relate to the Marina Residential District. She said incentive options provide specific incentives if a developer
consolidates a certain amount of property in the district. In response to a question, Ms. Tarapani said the maximum allowable height for the Yacht Basin property is 130 feet.
Edward Mazur, engineer for David Mack, reviewed an architectural rendering of the proposed David Mack project. He anticipates the Marina aspect of the project would be ready for presentation
to the CDB (Community Development Board) within the next 6 – 9 months.
Residents were given an opportunity to speak regarding the amendments. Comments included: 1) concern about traffic congestion at the beach due to construction of the new bridge and
proposed development projects; 2) boardwalk should be extended around the length of the entire Yacht Basin property; 3) development proposal is a great deal for East Shore; 4) City is
leaning towards developers to help them achieve their goals; 5) opposition to high-rise development at the beach; 6) City is modifying its negotiation ability and keeps changing the
original Beach by Design plan; 7) public right-of-way would be in front of residential properties; 8) if allowing TDRs (Transfer Development Rights), do not permit 50 units; 9) a lack
of business rationale for Clearwater; 10) a lack of tourism support; 11) building on barrier islands contributes to additional sewage, etc.; 12) concern about green space requirements;
13) citizens should support and applaud any developer that puts up with what is required to do business in the City; 14) allow beautiful tall buildings or end up with an ugly Kleenex
box like Surfside; 15) proposed developments will only bring in low income service jobs; 16) City is losing middle income housing; 17) consider the needs of those who are not wealthy
and/or developers; 18) the David Mack project could have transferred even
more TDRs than is being proposed; the project provides a terrific view corridor; 19) changes are needed but concern was expressed that the City has no firm plans; 20) City should impose
and maintain specific height restrictions; 21) property taxes would be outrageous without development; 22) people are slow to change and feel more comfortable keeping things static;
23) young people want development, not a retirement community; 24) support for the roundabout; 25) support for development; and 26) get past differences and proceed with amendments.
Mr. Stone said after Beach by Design was adopted, some changes were made in order to achieve a good development project. He said staff is trying to deliver what many residents asked
for including their willingness to live with some increased heights. He said the intent of these amendments is not to accommodate developers but create change in the East Shore area
in conjunction with a proposed developer plan. He thanked everyone for attending.
Ms. Tarapani encouraged everyone to contact her or staff via telephone, mail, or e-mail.
City Manager Bill Horne said he works hard at listening to people. He said staff, the administration, and elected officials receive mixed messages from the public but always attempt
to make decisions that are ultimately in the best interests of the community. He thanked everyone for sharing their feelings and opinions.
Mr. Horne said the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa is proposing to use a 4-mile stretch of Clearwater Beach on April 6 and 7, 2002, for their annual airshow. Vendors would sell souvenirs
and food. A typical airshow brings approximately 400,000 people to MacDill. Obviously, since Clearwater could not accommodate so many people, the airshow would have to be spread out
more conveniently, perhaps along other neighboring cities such as Dunedin. He anticipates that 100,000 – 150,000 people could attend the airshow. Mr. Horne said unless the community
wants to support it, he would not consider accommodating MacDill’s request.
By a show of hands, the majority of the public indicated they were in favor of bringing the airshow to Clearwater.
It was suggested that Clearwater first research how Ft. Lauderdale handled hosting their airshow before making any decisions. Mr. Horne said the City has no plans regarding the airshow
yet.
The meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m.