Commission approves zoning code changes

The Longboat Key Town Commission voted 6-0 to approve an ordinance that includes various changes to the town’s zoning code on second reading and public hearing at last night’s regular meeting.

The commission received more than 40 emails opposing the changes, most of which came from Islandside residents and about a half-dozen emails in support.

Islandside Property Owners Coalition President Bob White wrote in an email to residents that the changes “were written specifically to legitimize their approval of the massive Key Club expansion, an expansion which has been ruled in violation of the law by the circuit court.”

However, at last night’s meeting, the commission heard from just three members of the public, each of whom urged approval of the changes.

Assistant Town Attorney Kelly Fernandez told the commission that many of the changes provide clarification in the zoning code about what has been the town’s policy.

The changes include clarification of the allowed uses of the Planned Development District, Gulf-Planned Development District and Negotiated Planned Development District with the Bay Isles, Islandside and Promenade/Water Club Mixed-Use Community districts.

The ordinance also states that site-plan approval does not have to occur concurrently with the outline-development plan process, eliminates the requirement that the commission make findings of fact and that an application that changes after it has been reviewed by the Planning & Zoning Board does not need to go before the board again.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].