Apparently, you can build a 54 room hotel with guests, a restaurant for 175 people and employ dozens of people and need only 54 parking spots on Sand Key. At least that is the approximate impact of the court’s decision to allow the project to move forward after a lengthy court battle.

The City of Clearwater had approved the project, but the residents had sued to make the City stick to existing parking requirements, rather than grant variances to the hotel project. If the project is built as planned, it will be interesting to see where all the traffic and cars will be shuffled to make this work without constant congestion in the area. The Biltmore has said they will have valet parking - but valet to where?

Once again, this is a call for the residents of Sand Key to meet with the City to agree upon future development issues. A plan needs to be developed now, rather than after the fact. Precedent for building limitations was evident in the Beach by Design plan for Clearwater Beach. We may not agree with the results, but there was a general plan to limit certain types of structures, heights and density. There is no plan for Sand Key. Now is the time to reach an agreement - not after plans are approved for another project in the future.

Finally we have narrowed down the key issue with the proposed new “boutique” hotel proposed for the Cabana Club sight on Sand Key. The owners of the property, Legg-Mason, have been approved for the construction of the new hotel including a 165 seat restaurant. Legg-Mason is also remodeling the Belleview Biltmore Hotel across the bay.

The new hotel is supposed to have 36 rooms, plus the restaurant. However, there will only be 56 parking spots. Someone must have enough common sense to figure out that a 165 seat restaurant, plus 38 hotel rooms and all the staff it will take to run the operation will need more than 56 places to park!

A group of residents (members of SON) is appealing the City’s approval to the 6th District Court of Appeals. The arguments will be heard in front of a 3 judge panel. The issue is the city’s failure to follow their own requirements which would require 113 parking spaces according to news sources.

The current restaurant and bar runs out of parking. On many occasions the staff uses the public park north of the Cabana Club for additional parking. That isn’t what the park is there for - it’s public land being used for commercial purposes. Does the City think a commercial operation should use a public park to solve their parking problems?

While our informal poll suggests most residents are not opposed to the overall project, they are opposed to the obvious parking limitations. There will be a spill-over parking issue that will affect residents if they allow the structure to be built with so few parking spots. Again the City doesn’t seem to understand that staff, customers, hotel guests, visitors and suppliers will need more than 56 places to park vehicles. Seems like good old common sense was lost in the shuffle.

It is sad that it takes a three judge Court of Appeals to right another blind spot on the city’s development push. We, the public, seem to always pay for lack of foresight. Should we list the projects that we have had to re-think in the last five or six years?

The letter below was received from Martin Smith, General Manager of the Belleview-Biltmore;

Thank you for taking the time to show your support for the new Cabana Club Hotel and Restaurant on Sand Key. As you are all well aware, this project is an exciting one for Sand Key and the entire region.
 
There are many misleading and inaccurate flyers and e-mails that have been distributed over the last week in regard to the hotel. If you, or any of your neighbors, have any new questions that may have arisen after reading these myself and anyone else on the team will be glad to answer them in person. More importantly, the plans for the hotel and site are on file with the city. I recommend you go to the City of Clearwater Planning Department and see them for yourself.
 
The St. Petersburg Times did an excellent job reviewing the Cabana Club Hotel and Restaurant project from all sides in an article entitled, “Is it worth it?” printed this past Saturday. Please take a moment to review this St. Petersburg Times article, attached for your convenience.
 
For more details about the project, or to see the latest artist renderings of the hotel, just go to www.belleviewbiltmore.com/restoration
 
To show your continued support please email the St. Petersburg Times Editor, Diane Steinle at dsteinle@sptimes.com. If you haven’t already, please email Clearwater City staff Wayne Wells at wayne.wells@myclearwater.com.
 
In closing, I urge you to come to City Hall on Tuesday, September 16 at 1:00PM to show your support. I will be emailing you the details as we get closer to the date.
 
Thank you and please contact me at 727-373-3783 with any questions.”
 
Warm Regards,

          Martin Smith

As we have stated, as an opinion, we believe a small boutique hotel would be better than what has existed on the location for many years. Our concern is the parking, which falls far short of what has been proposed and any variations not previously allowed on Sand Key.

I received Cynthia Remley’s reply to a letter from Martin Smith, Managing Director of the Belleview Biltmore explaining the future development of the Cabana Club property.

Without boring you with the details of the two page Remley letter, the key point she makes is that the hotel group is mis-leading you and they cannot be believed. Ms. Remley fails to note that Legg-Mason’s plan is clearly of record and there is nothing mis-leading about their plans. They are what they propose to the city - nothing more, nothing less.

Remley’s open letter makes these points:

• She claims Legg-Mason wants to “take” part of the beach beyond the Coastal Construction Line. She fails to mention that there are dozens of encroachments of the CCL line that are actually within the property lines of the owner. Why don’t we oppose ALL of these variations that exist now and have for years?
• Parking - the Remley letter points out the shortfall of the parking for the Legg-Mason hotel plans. She is correct, there are not enough parking spaces to accommodate a hotel and a 165 seat restaurant. Saying that Legg-Mason is acting as something less than a good neighbor. When you go in front of the City of Clearwater Development Board, you better ask for more than you want. That is bargaining and has nothing to do with a company’s integrity. Sure they want to much, but I seriously doubt the City can’t figure this out. The existing Cabana Club already uses the City park for employee parking on many occasions. That is not acceptable.
• Remley complains about the height. Right or wrong, the plan clearly shows the height in their drawings and plans. There is nothing incorrect about the plans. They aren’t hiding anything.
• In the Remley letter, she complains about the variations that they are requesting. Again, whether you agree or disagree the code variations are clearly set out. The City will negotiate with Legg-Mason to grant what has been done in the past. There are numerous variations all over the island. Legg-Mason is very agressive, but is that posturing based on historical precedents or real planning?
• Remley also points out the financial impact this project may have on the neighbors. That is indisputable, but not much worse that what is there now.
• Contrary to what Remley states, the “community” is not against the hotel. In fact, many people want them to develop the hotel (without unprecedented variations). There is no universal opposition to this project as there was with the Shoppes issue.

Finally, the statement that Legg-Mason takes a “take it ot leave” position or we may have a “gas station, liquor store, nightclub or a used car lot” on the property is just over the line and preposterous.

BOTH sides need to stop the rhetoric, exaggerations and name calling atmosphere. What is there is not working. Something beneficial or acceptable can be built, but Sand Key needs unity to create a neighborhood design plan that makes sense. Creating new groups, committees and organizations that fragment the community won’t work. This is a perfect example. It merely allows Legg-Mason and others an easy walk through the development process.

Just a quick opinion.