PNJ Article on 05/05/05 (thats weird !!)
Island Authority postpones rezoning vote
May 5, 2005
Fredie Carmichael@PensacolaNewsJournal.com
Residents awaiting a final decision by the Santa Rosa Island Authority on the issue of a heated, high-rise rezoning case will have to wait for Round Two.That might not come for another six months.The Island Authority on Wednesday delayed any action on the rezoning request of the owners of Clarion Suites Resort and Convention Center, which was damaged severely by Hurricane Ivan and is in the island's commercial core. Officials said they would wait until a newly formed committee charged with studying future development on the island completes a study.Before Ivan, Clarion had 86 condo/hotel units and was zoned for as many as 120 units. The owners, who have decided to sell the property, want the number of allowable units increased to 216. Bill Griffith, chairman of the Island Authority's board, said he wanted to wait until the committee studies the issue of beach development. It could take up to six months for the committee to complete its study and report back to the Island Authority, Griffith said."I would not be in favor of moving ahead until I hear back from them," Griffith said.Some of the owners who packed the Island Authority public hearing Wednesday were not happy with its decision to delay the issue."That's another six months without any prospect of earning (rental) income," said Peter Gram, who owns a unit at Clarion and attended the meeting. "You're going to end up with an eyesore because the property cannot be reopened at this point. While I appreciate the quaintness offered by this environment, I am a realist. That means rational development."Some residents, though, said they want the owners' request to be rejected by the Island Authority on the grounds that additional units would pave the way for a taller building, and they worry that if the Island Authority allows this change, others could follow.By Wednesday afternoon, 395 people had signed a petition declaring they were "opposed to high-population density housing, high-rise residences and high-rise hotels being constructed on Pensacola Beach ..."About 50 residents, some for and some against the rezoning, attended Wednesday's meeting but were not allowed to discuss the issue with the Island Authority because the board voted to table the issue before they were to speak. Some left disappointed."I'm upset, but we'll continue with the petition drive and get more names until the next meeting," said Fran Summerlin Histed, who resides on Pensacola Beach.Owners have said they don't think the rezoning request should even be an issue because the rebuilt hotel would be no taller than other nearby buildings that are in the commercial core.Residents like Histed say they don't want any more development to "hide the beauty of this beach," regardless of what area it's in.
©The Pensacola News Journal
May 5, 2005
May 5, 2005
Fredie Carmichael@PensacolaNewsJournal.com
Residents awaiting a final decision by the Santa Rosa Island Authority on the issue of a heated, high-rise rezoning case will have to wait for Round Two.That might not come for another six months.The Island Authority on Wednesday delayed any action on the rezoning request of the owners of Clarion Suites Resort and Convention Center, which was damaged severely by Hurricane Ivan and is in the island's commercial core. Officials said they would wait until a newly formed committee charged with studying future development on the island completes a study.Before Ivan, Clarion had 86 condo/hotel units and was zoned for as many as 120 units. The owners, who have decided to sell the property, want the number of allowable units increased to 216. Bill Griffith, chairman of the Island Authority's board, said he wanted to wait until the committee studies the issue of beach development. It could take up to six months for the committee to complete its study and report back to the Island Authority, Griffith said."I would not be in favor of moving ahead until I hear back from them," Griffith said.Some of the owners who packed the Island Authority public hearing Wednesday were not happy with its decision to delay the issue."That's another six months without any prospect of earning (rental) income," said Peter Gram, who owns a unit at Clarion and attended the meeting. "You're going to end up with an eyesore because the property cannot be reopened at this point. While I appreciate the quaintness offered by this environment, I am a realist. That means rational development."Some residents, though, said they want the owners' request to be rejected by the Island Authority on the grounds that additional units would pave the way for a taller building, and they worry that if the Island Authority allows this change, others could follow.By Wednesday afternoon, 395 people had signed a petition declaring they were "opposed to high-population density housing, high-rise residences and high-rise hotels being constructed on Pensacola Beach ..."About 50 residents, some for and some against the rezoning, attended Wednesday's meeting but were not allowed to discuss the issue with the Island Authority because the board voted to table the issue before they were to speak. Some left disappointed."I'm upset, but we'll continue with the petition drive and get more names until the next meeting," said Fran Summerlin Histed, who resides on Pensacola Beach.Owners have said they don't think the rezoning request should even be an issue because the rebuilt hotel would be no taller than other nearby buildings that are in the commercial core.Residents like Histed say they don't want any more development to "hide the beauty of this beach," regardless of what area it's in.
©The Pensacola News Journal
May 5, 2005
posted by Pensacola Beach No High Rises !! at 10:01 PM
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