Meet Randy Clair: Questions and answers with the new commissioner

On April 3, the Town Commission unanimously approved Randy Clair to fill the District 1 seat, which was left vacant when Commissioner Armando Linde resigned on March 21. The Longboat Observer submitted a series of questions to Clair, similar to those put to the four candidates who ran for the March 14 election. Here are his answers:

Meet Randy Clair

Age: 77

Hometown: Lake Bluff, Illinois

Family: Wife, Jean; Three Daughters, Kathy, Margaret and Pamela; and Four Grandchildren

Previous elected positions: Town LBK, Commissioner-at-Large, March 2005-March 2009

Clubs, organizations: St. Mary, Star of Sea Church Catholic Church, Member of Finance Committee; and Member of Revitalization Task Force until 4/3/17

Hobbies: Golf and Boating

Questions and answers

Question: As the town moves to update its comprehensive beach management plan, what are some changes you would like to see to the town’s policy on re-nourishment or groins?

Answer: Joint planning and contracting with other governmental units to gain shared economic benefits of larger scaled re-nourishment projects. Continue efforts to find an economic source of white sand.

Question: What are your thoughts on a terminal groin at the north tip of the island?

Answer: If the approved Inlet Management Plan for Longboat Pass includes a terminal groin, I would support that recommendation.

Question: What- if anything- should the town do to help alleviate the traffic issues?

Answer: Continue recommendations to residents and visitors to car pool for lunch, dinner and shopping trips and attempt to schedule trips during less congested times. It appears that this has had an improvement in reducing traffic congestion this spring.

Question: Town leaders have made progress in working with the Florida Department of Transportation on some traffic issues. Now that the town has FDOT ear, what are some other issues on Gulf of Mexico Drive you want to address?

Answer: Continue efforts with FDOT and adjoining community leaders, to explore and implement methods to alleviate congestion, including demand or linked timing of critical traffic lights. Remind FDOT to abide by agreement on restrictions, except for boat traffic, for unnecessary New Pass bridge openings during peak traffic hours. With respect to Gulf of Mexico Drive, work with FDOT to expedite the expansion of GMD to 3 lanes between the south entrance to Country Club Shores, Unit 4, south to the gas station.  This will help eliminate public safety concerns and south bound traffic back up caused by left hand traffic into Country Club Shores, Units 1, 2 and 3 and room for left hand turns on to Gulf of Mexico Drive from the Country Club Shores Units .

Question: Do you think the town should allow the opportunity for mixed-use redevelopment on non-conforming properties?

Answer: This was the general rule, if the non-conforming property is the result of vested use and density rights, then redevelopment, without mixed use, would be restricted to the vested usage and density. This is undergoing a change to use the PUD process, with mixed use, as the mechanism for redevelopment as a result of pending amendments to the Zoning Code and Comprehensive Plan. It is not clear to me how vested use and density rights will be handled in a mixed use case. Accordingly, I am unable to answer your question. If the Owner surrender’s its vested use and density rights, then the property can be redeveloped with mixed use, consistent with all of the applicable requirements of the current Town Zoning Code and density for the property.

Question: What are your thoughts on the 65-foot above elevation building height limit?

Answer: I support the 65 foot maximum height limitation. I also support a 30 foot height limit for single family properties.

Question: Now that the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort referendum has been defeated, what are your thoughts about future redevelopment of the property?

Answer: I hope in my life time, that the Town will finally see the Colony redeveloped into a successful tourist facility.

Question: How would you describe your vision of what Longboat Key should look like in 15 years?

Answer: I believe that the Town will appear much improved, with the addition of redeveloped single family, condo and commercial properties, consistent with the Town Vision Plan and updated Zoning Code,  plus a completed town center, more open space,  underground electric, utility and Wi-Fi wires, renewed water and sewer systems and  attractive beach as result of continued beach re-nourishment programs .

Question: As the town moves to update the charter, are there any rules or language you would like to see changed?

Answer: Suggest change terms limits to three years rather than current two-year term for Commissioners. Reduce Commissioner Districts to four from current five districts. Increase At-Large Commissioners from two to three  Provide for a Finance Committee and a five-year and 10-year Capital Improvement Plans.

Question: What are three main priorities you will undertake as a town policymaker?

Answer: 1) Complete up date to Town Zoning Code and related Comprehensive Plan Provisions; 2) Find an economic source of acceptable white sands grain size for use in beach re-nourishment programs; and  3) Develop and implement jointly agreed effective solutions to traffic congestion.