Request could send two parcels to referenda zone

Peter Dailey, a land-use consultant, requested two referenda questions be placed on a near-future ballot, allowing the addition of six new single-family homes on two parcels currently zoned for commercial use during the “public to be heard” segment of the Longboat Key Town Commission workshop Thursday, April 19.

Dailey told commissioners that if they allow the questions to go on the August election ballot, it would come at no cost to the town. If the questions go to voters in the November election, the town would need to add a page to the ballot at a cost of $1,800, and if a special election were to be held, it would cost the town between $15,000 and $18,000, Dailey said.

“If you allow ... the placement of the referendum language in August by ordinance, you would, in my estimation, be doing the fiscally responsible thing for the taxpayers of Longboat Key,” Dailey said.

One property is a vacant parcel owned by First America Bank at 521 Broadway located east and adjacent to Barrier Island Realty Group. The owner seeks to change the zoning of the property from commercial to residential to allow for the construction of two single-family homes.

The other property is the vacant parcel at 5440 Gulf of Mexico Drive, located between the town’s public safety complex and the Centre Shops. Owner Victor Levine hopes to change the property’s zoning from commercial to residential to allow for the construction of four single-family homes.

Town Attorney David Persson said that a referenda allows the town to change its Comprehensive Plan to create density where density doesn’t exist.

Persson suggested that Dailey put his request in writing to Town Manager David Bullock who would then give the request to Planning Zoning & Building staff.

The commission could adopt ordinances that would place the questions on the ballot. If the commission doesn’t adopt ordinances, the applicants have the right to have the items placed on a ballot within six months provided they collect 600 petition signatures.

Commissioners agreed they needed more information before they could make a decision.

“It’s not that we object to what you’re requesting, it’s just that we don’t have the information we need to make a decision,” Mayor Jim Brown said.

Bullock plans to hold the first workshop for the upcoming fiscal year during the first half of May.