City abandons Whitaker Gateway Park dog park plan

The City Commission is calling off the dogs — or rather, the dogs’ park.

 On Monday, the board voted 4-1 to abandon previously approved plans to build a dog park at Whitaker Gateway Park, located near U.S. 41 and 14th Street. The decision came after residents in the nearby Bay’s Bluff condominium building voiced strong opposition to the project.

Although the commission discussed the proposal at multiple meetings before approving it in 2017, Bay’s Bluff residents said they weren’t aware of the plans until after the vote. Those residents have appeared in front of the commission this year asking them to reconsider the project.

They argued visitors already regularly use Whitaker Gateway Park, and they expressed concerns about the effects a dog park might have on noise and parking availability.

“From our perspective, there wasn’t the desire or need for a dog park in Whitaker Park,” Bay’s Bluff resident Ann Hotaling said.

Their latest round of lobbying proved successful. A majority of the commission agreed to set aside the dog park plans, directing parks and recreation staff to explore other opportunities for using the funding budgeted for the project. Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch cast the dissenting vote.

Also at Monday’s City Commission meeting:

• The commission approved a series of parking regulations that includes the phased-in implementation of on-street paid parking downtown.
• The board unanimously agreed to hold a special meeting to consider the proposed redevelopment of the Lido Beach pool and pavilion site. The meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 14, at City Hall.
• In a 3-2 vote, the commission approved the creation of a parks and recreation district. The decision will give the city the option of using a special taxing district to fund park operations, though the commission is not committed to using the district in its 2019-20 budget.
• The city designated the Christy Payne Mansion at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens as a structure of local historic significance.