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Building height, density increase may appear on November ballot in Treasure Island

 
Published April 7, 2016

TREASURE ISLAND — Residents likely will vote in November whether to allow increases in building height and density being proposed along Gulf Boulevard.

On first reading Tuesday, city commissioners approved amending the comprehensive plan and allowing a planned development district that would give developers in specific areas the ability to request increases in height and density.

Before a large audience of residents, all five commissioners said they were in favor of approving the changes so that voters could decide whether to give more flexibility in future development.

In 2002, Treasure Island voters decided that all increases in building height and density must come before them for a vote.

If approved, the current height maximum of five stories could be increased to seven and density increased from 50 to 75 units per acre in resort facilities high zoning and from 22 to 60 units per acre in commercial general.

"As a businessman, I recognize it is time to get Treasure Island moving again," Commissioner Phil Collins said. "The voters will make the final decision. We are just enabling them to make it."

Mayor Robert Minning said approving the ordinances and putting the issue before voters was "the right thing to do for Treasure Island."

The city staff has been working on the land use changes for several years with the aim of making it more economically feasible for hotel developers to build.

The planned development district could be used from 127th Avenue north to the city limits on both sides of Gulf Boulevard and on the west side of Gulf Boulevard between 104th and 119th avenues.

City Manager Reid Silverboard said an analysis done of the proposed changes show they would increase property values by $210 million and add property tax revenue of $702,154 along with increasing tourist development taxes by more than $1 million.

Projections show the changes would mean up to 757 new tourist units, he said. But the analysis shows the extra units would not have a major impact on traffic and sewer, drainage and water systems.

"This is a way to get commercial property to pay and give residents tax relief," Silverboard said, pointing out that the amount of commercial property would double.

Commissioner Ken Keys said he has heard that the city has lost about 800 hotel units during recent years because developers have found it isn't economically feasible to build or make renovations, and buildings then turn from commercial to residential.

Arthur Czyszczon, general manager of the Page Terrace Beachfront Motel, said he supports the land use changes as "a crucial step to regeneration of our cityscape."

"We need flexibility," he said, adding that the current building height and density restrictions promote big-box shape buildings with little creative architecture.

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But several residents spoke out against the changes, warning commissioners to be transparent about their motives.

"Either you're for tall buildings or you're not, it's as simple as that," Ken Weiss told the commission. "I challenge you to answer that question."

Silverboard said websites and social media information by opponents are misleading and offered to meet with residents "to dispel the fear that is out there."

The proposed changes will be vetted by several agencies and are expected to be before the commission for final adoption in June.