Commission seeks map for Comp Plan, code changes

Comp Plan and code revision isn’t sexy stuff — even by town government standards.

Longboat Key commissioners pointed out that not a single member of the town’s planning staff or Planning & Zoning Board was in attendance at the Sept. 15 workshop, which included an update on the anticipated process for revisions to the town’s Comprehensive Plan and land development codes. Not one member of the public spoke during the discussion.

But the town’s current Comp Plan and codes have a tangible impact on its citizens.

Many of the town’s properties are non-conforming due to the 1984 Comprehensive Plan and codes passed around the same time. (University of Florida officials will gather data about the extent of non-conformities through an agreement to perform planning work for the town.) As a result, many property owners face constraints when they seek to redevelop their properties.

“It is still very difficult to redevelop one of these properties,” said Town Manager Dave Bullock. “I’m guessing it was by intent because the stated policy of the town was to lower the density of these properties.”

Commissioners have discussed possible revisions to the town’s Comp Plans and codes for nearly three years, and several expressed frustration with the slow pace of changes.

Commissioner Phill Younger recalled discussions at least a year ago that caused him to believe the town was moving closer to making changes and suggested the town has gotten distracted.

“We have gotten side-tracked with other things that have been appealing to us, such as the town center, whereas this, by my thinking, is more of a hot-button issue that needs to be addressed,” he said.

Younger suggested the town prioritize issues with non-conforming properties so that voters can approve changes in a referendum on the town’s March ballot.

However, other commissioners expressed frustration that they don’t know the goals they’re seeking to accomplish.

“I’d like someone to sit down and explain, what is it we’re trying to do?” Mayor Jim Brown said.

Brown said he believes that if a structure was built legally, the structure should be considered legal today.
Bullock told the commission that as a starting point, the town should seek to make non-conforming properties “as close to conforming as you can.”

He warned commissioners that the discussion wouldn’t be over any time soon.

“As much as it may disappoint you, you’re gonna talk about this a lot,” he said. “You’re going to talk about it in details that will make your eyes roll back, because that’s what it’s going to take to work through this code.”