|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Communities to choose their own density
By SUZETTE PORTER
Article published on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007 |
CLEARWATER – Public opinion ran 5 to 1 in favor of an ordinance amending the countywide rules on density for temporary housing at the Oct. 16 Board of County Commissioners meeting.
The board unanimously approved the ordinance. Commissioner Karen Seel was absent.
Commissioner Susan Latvala made the motion, saying approval was the right thing to do for the future of the county.
Commissioner Calvin Harris seconded the motion and said it was “a well chosen step we should take. I look forward to each community making a decision that will benefit Pinellas County in a positive way.”
Commissioner John Morroni said the ordinance would allow “cities to make their own destiny.”
Commissioner Ken Welch called the amendment the epitome of home rule and said it was something needed by the tourist industry.
Commissioner Bob Stewart and Board Chairman Ronnie Duncan conceded there would be impacts resulting from the change, but said it was for the best.
“Why would we deny our communities this choice,” Stewart asked. “Allowing them to have the local option is the best way to go.”
Duncan said one of the added benefits from the long-term development of the ordinance was the healthy discussion about where “we want to go in the future.”
Hotel owners and managers, chamber executives, business owners, developers and more spoke in favor of the rule changes for a variety of reasons. The overall theme was the need to recapture lost hotel rooms, estimated at about 5,000 over the past three years.
Some said the increased density would allow hotel developers to compete with condominium developers. Almost all talked about the trickle down benefits of a healthy tourism industry, allowing for increased revenue from bed and sales taxes; increased spending at local businesses; the ability to retain and increase job opportunities and other benefits.
Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard said it was important to approve the ordinance.
“We need this catalyst,” he said.
William Pyle, a member of Citizens for Responsible Growth, spoke against the ordinance and questioned why it had to be countywide. He suggested that it would be more appropriate to let each municipality that wanted increased density to ask the county for approval of a separate amendment. He suggested that there was a better way to help tourism and to preserve mom and pop facilities and historical hotels.
One other objection concerned the impact on the water supply. The third opponent predicted that an increase in density would actually cause a loss in tourist dollars and would bring about an end to the mom and pop lodging facilities.
Shelia Cole, executive director of the Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce, urged the commissioners to approve the ordinance as she had at almost all prior meetings on the subject.
She said it was a very exciting time for tourism in Pinellas County. She also said she hoped it would be the last time she spoke before the board on the issue and had only one more thing to add - “Thank you.”
|
Article published on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tampa Bay Newspapers
9911 Seminole Blvd.
Seminole, FL 33772
(727) 397-5563
Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
|
|
