Whitney Plaza owner nixes referendum request

Does Whitney Beach Plaza owner Ryan Snyder want to sell his property to Sarasota-based Floridays Development Co.?

Only time will tell. But what is certain: Snyder will not proceed with a referendum request to change his plaza’s zoning from commercial to tourism following Floridays’ referendum request and plans for a hotel next door.

Snyder informed Planning, Zoning and Building Director Alaina Ray of his decision in a Nov. 23 email.

“I was advised the property directly to the north of Whitney Plaza is seeking a referendum to convert to tourism use,” he wrote. “In light of the emergence of this new group, I’m not certain it is in the best interest of Whitney Plaza LLC to seek a referendum at this time.”

Floridays Project Manager James Brearley announced in a Nov. 20 email to Longboat Key commissioners that he’s seeking a referendum to change the zoning of six parcels owned by William Saba from commercial to tourism use that allows six units per acre.

The properties at 6920, 6916 and 6910 Gulf of Mexico Drive, along with parcels at 6931, 6927 and 6919 Palm Drive, encompass approximately 1.5 acres of land between Whitney Beach Plaza and the vacant bank building at 6960 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Snyder told the Longboat Observer Dec. 2 he nixed his request for two reasons: 

He’s concerned the island’s electorate would confuse the two referendum requests and could cause the voters to vote against it. He also has plans to discuss the hotel concept Floridays plans for a 1.5-acre site next door to his property.

Brearley can’t divulge the type of hotel or the number of units Floridays seeks for the 1.5 acres. The zoning Floridays seeks would allow approximately nine units unless a future site plan received additional tourism units via a special exception.

“I’m not sure how they can sandwich a hotel like that on 1.5 acres,” Snyder said. “I would like to reach out to them to see if there’s any common ground.”

Snyder believes that a hotel for the north end will only work if it includes his Whitney Plaza site.

“The two sites need to be one,” Snyder said.

Snyder said he’s also encouraged and intrigued by Floridays’ desire for a hotel on the north end.

“A hotel group like that is what the Key needs,” Snyder said. “They know how to build a hotel and I want to see if I can help.”

Brearley said Floridays sought to acquire all of the property along Gulf of Mexico Drive from Whitney Beach Plaza north to the vacant gas station parcel.

In an Oct. 13 email exchange between Snyder and Michael Saunders & Co. agent Lee DeLieto Jr., who was acting on behalf of Floridays, Snyder wrote that he’s not willing to sell Whitney Beach Plaza for less than $3.7 million.

Brearley said he’s open to future discussions that include Whitney Beach Plaza.

“We worked hard to assemble the whole triangle, including the vacant bank building and the gas station, and we had some initial discussions with Whitney Beach Plaza, too,” Brearley said two weeks ago.

Brearley hasn’t had any luck getting the owner of the bank building to meet with him and a price point for Whitney Beach Plaza must be negotiated. 

Brearley said the owner of the gas station is willing to sell the property at what he considers a reasonable price.

The gas station property is currently listed for $599,000.