Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Fort Pierce rejects plan for dock expansion

By ALEXI HOWK
November 7, 2006FORT PIERCE — The City Commission late Monday night denied developer Mason Simpson's plans to expand the Harbour Isle marina with an additional 28 boat slips.
About 40 residents in the 912-unit Harbour Isle development crowded commission chambers Monday night to object to Simpson's plans. The commission turned the request down 3-2, with Commissioners Rufus Alexander and R. "Duke" Nelson dissenting.

Simpson wants to expand the development's 63-slip marina with slips large enough to moor 60-foot boats.

Several residents complained noise pollution and diesel fumes created by the expansion would devalue their properties. The also worried the expansion would damage sea grass beds in the lagoon.

Philip "Flip" Gates, president of Visions of Fort Pierce and spokesman for the Harbour Isle at Hutchinson Island East Condominium Association, told commissioners about 200 of its members opposed the plan.

Additionally, about 60 residents signed petitions protesting the plan.

Several commissioners, including Mayor Bob Benton, said they would have looked at the proposal more favorably had Simpson completed commercial buildings on the property, including a restaurant, grocery store and a marina support building.

"To me, when we approved this we expected to see a finished product before we approved additions," Benton said.

Simpson argued there hasn't been a demand for commercial development and he has been unsuccessful finding people interested in running a restaurant.

"I can't see building a building and doing the field of dreams trick, if you build it, they'll come," Simpson said.

Philippe Jeck, attorney for the developer, said he received 25 letters in support of the project. Still, the objections far outnumbered those in favor of the plan.

"My apartment would be looking at a 60-foot boat, and I will be sucking in diesel fumes,"
resident Kerrie Russell said. "People will be looking into my window. I don't like that my privacy is going to be disrupted. My view is going to be obscured."

Resident Paul Gagnon said he recently received a letter from the homeowners association saying he would have to pay a portion of $50,000 to repair a deteriorating sea wall. He said additional slips would put more undue burden on residents, especially because use of the marina isn't restricted to residents.

Jeck told commissioners the boats would be about 50 feet from apartments. He said the existing marina, which is open to the public, is full. He said 27 of the 63 slips are used by residents and 36 are used by nonresidents. There are 37 names on a waiting list for slips.
Commissioner Christine Coke sided with residents.

"From what I'm hearing from the people that live here, they're responsible for maintaining that sea wall," Coke said. "So, you're looking to build something that is possibly going to jeopardize or damage their sea wall. They're going to be in charge of maintaining it or repairing it.

"They're going to be the ones putting up with the noise and the smell every time someone starts a boat. They're going to put up with it, while you guys walk away with the money."

IN OTHER ACTION
The commission:
• Dropped a proposal to prevent the public comment portion of its meetings from being televised.
• Postponed a planned unit development consisting of 284 town houses and 218 single-family homes on the east side of Selvitz Road, a half mile north of Midway Road. The commission instructed Midway St. Lucie LLC to work with residents in the surrounding area who oppose the project and come up with a compromise by the Nov. 20 meeting.
• Adopted the 2002 Port of Fort Pierce master plan into the city's comprehensive plan. The plan limits cargo development to berth 1 and encourages gentrification of the port through a mix of recreational, commercial, residential and industrial uses.
• Approved 244 recorded annexation agreements in the Paradise Park subdivision. The properties will increase the city's tax base by $47,000.
• Approved a proposal by Shelby Homes at Hutchinson LC to construct 35 boat slips, one of which will be city-owned, from the Mariner Bay town house development on the west side of South Ocean Drive, south of Indialantic Drive and north of Jaycee Park.

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