With such a brief land use agenda, it seems like a perfect opportunity to have the planning staff brief the public and council about the complex Comprehensive Plan process we are facing with the rewrite by Able City East. Explain the critical issues and  make a serious effort to engage the public.  

In another Florida county, last Thursday commissioners voted to delay the county’s proposed comprehensive plan after residents packed the chamber with concerns about growth and development.  We should be packing our community center - but do people even understand what a rewrite of the comp plan could mean to them - their children and grandchildren over the next 20 years?  

We thank the Village for extending the public comment deadline to March 13!  Now encourage the public - let them know why it is important to get engaged in the process!

Could there be a single meeting of the Village Council without controversy?  Doesn’t look like this will be it!  Check the administrative relief for 183 E. Ridge Road.  The owner wants a BPAS allocation for a prior Councilman’s former property - on a narrow jetty creating an oceanside boat basin and park.  

Administrative relief can be provided when an applicant for a BPAS allocation has been on the waiting list for 4 years without getting an allocation.  A hearing is then scheduled before the Village Council.  

From Village Code: Action by village council. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the village council may take any or a combination of the following actions:

1. Grant the applicant an allocation award for all or part of the allocation       requested in the next succeeding allocation period or extended pro rata       over several succeeding allocation periods.

2. Offer to purchase the property at its fair market value.

3. Suggest such other relief as may be necessary and appropriate.

The Council has consistently provided an allocation when they have administrative Relief hearings.

There are 6 administrative relief allocations remaining and no market rate allocations… with 38 Applicants looking for allocations. A majority are eligible for administrative relief.  Those 6 should be used judiciously by the Village.  The property in question is contiguous to other properties purchased together by this owner. This property does have a significant use - boat dockage. The market value is listed as $98,039 by the County Property Appraiser with 75% of the value being the improvements and 25% being the land.  

According to the plat, a portion of the “platted lot” is listed as a park with another portion as the 20’ easement for access to the park.

The Village should either…

1. deny the administrative relief as not necessary as the owner has a significant use of the property for dockage.  

2. Offer to purchase the property at just (market) value listed as $98,039 to return the “park” and park access easement for the originally intended public use, based on the designations on the plat map.  

Save valuable Administrative Relief for more appropriate situations.