Residents, developers talk North Trail condo project

During a community workshop Thursday regarding a planned mixed-use, multi-phase project on more than 8 acres near the 1800 block of North Tamiami Trail, development representatives promised nearby residents their concerns would be taken into consideration as details are finalized.

Those concerns were less substantial than those surrounding previous projects proposed for the site, which saw a protracted battle over plans that included condominium towers, a hotel and a yacht club.

Thursday’s workshop focused on phase one of three for the land, which is being developed by Jebco Ventures. That phase includes plans for 76 condos and parking in a 45-foot-tall structure, as well as around 50 boat slips for resident use. The second phase would add another 80 units around a central pool area.

One of the main issues voiced by residents pertained to boats. Those living in neighboring areas reported issues with the noise caused by fast boats earlier in the summer, and worried that adding more boats to the area could lead to more problems.

Joel Freedman, a planning consultant representing Jebco at the meeting, acknowledged such an issue could be trouble for the surrounding neighborhood.

“The noise ordinance is difficult to enforce,” Freedman said. “The boat drives by, and by the time someone gets there to do anything about it, the boat’s gone.”

Still, Freedman said, the proposed condos would be a part of that surrounding neighborhood. As a result, as Jebco works on finalizing details for the project, the development team could seek to include restrictions aimed at preventing such an issue, Freedman indicated.

Jebco is seeking to rezone the land for development under the North Trail Overlay District, which allows for higher building heights but requires the developer to hold neighborhood workshops and includes regulations on a project’s daylight plane.

Freedman suggested that the project, which includes an unspecified commercial third phase, could be a catalyst for the city’s North Trail, which has long been a target for revitalization.

“When you bring more residences up into the area, that puts more eyes on the street and creates more activity,” Freedman said. “Hopefully, it’ll keep moving up to the airport.”