'The U.S. Constitution did not take this long to write'

The Constitutional Convention began May 25, 1787 and adjourned Sept. 17, 1787. That’s 116 days.

The town has been mulling the need to rewrite its codes and Comprehensive Plan since at least Dec. 29, 2011, when Sarasota Judge Charles E. Roberts ruled that the town violated its zoning regulations and Comprehensive Plan when the Longboat Key Town Commission approved the Longboat Key Club & Resort’s $400 million expansion plan in 2010. That’s 1,118 days as of Jan. 20, when the Longboat Key Town Commission met for its regular workshop.

“The U.S. Constitution did not take this long to write,” a frustrated Commissioner Lynn Larson said at Tuesday’s workshop.

Although Roberts’ ruling provided an impetus for making changes, town residents and officials have discussed the need to update the Comp Plan and codes long before 2011.

“We’ve been doing this since I got on the commission,” said Larson, who was elected in 2010 and predicted at Tuesday’s meeting that the town will still be discussing changes when she reaches her term limit and leaves office next year.

Commissioner Phill Younger also spoke up about the need to move ahead with changes.

“It’s up to the commission to hold the people responsible for this accountable to get this done in a timely manner,” he said.

Larson’s comment came after Jerry Murphy, the town’s planning consultant, presented ordinance language to the commission that addresses nonconforming properties.

Many of the town’s properties are nonconforming due to the 1984 Comprehensive Plan and codes passed around the same time. As a result, many property owners face constraints when they seek to redevelop their properties.

The commission reached consensus to forward the language that would relax restrictions to first reading and public hearing — but only after a lengthy discussion about the slow pace of changes.

Town Manager Dave Bullock explained to the commission that progress is typically slow for zoning code and Comp Plan changes.

“Most rewrites of Comprehensive Plans and land-development codes actually wind down before they happen because they take so much time.”

According to Bullock, the town faces a challenge many communities face when they take on code and Comp Plan rewrites: When officials read the code in detail, they find that their regulations are often conflicting.

Bullock estimated the process would continue for another two years.

“Sometimes, it will not be very exciting work, but that’s what it takes,” he said. “As much as you want speed, I really do think you want to do this right.”

Bullock described an Oct. 20 joint meeting between the commission and Planning and Zoning Board as a “launch pad” that provided direction for where the boards wish to go. Although it will take two years to review the Comp Plan and codes in their entirety, some changes will take effect sooner.

“There are elements that will be finished, they’ll be in place and they’ll be enforceable,” Bullock said.

Not everyone expressed frustration by the slow pace.

“We spent years talking about the need to do this work,” said Commissioner Terry Gans. “I’m happy to be at this stage, no matter how small it is.”

Commissioner Pat Zunz worried that other commissioners were placing blame on the Planning Zoning and Building Department, which Alaina Ray was appointed to lead in 2013 and described the department as “in need of rehabilitation” at the time.

“I think it is very unfair to attempt to lay this on her department,” Zunz said.

Mayor Jim Brown said he shared in commissioners’ frustration but also expressed optimism.

“I think, as slow as the pace is, we’re moving forward, and I’m looking forward to the conclusion,” he said.