Commission allows Whitney Plaza referendum work

Whitney Beach Plaza owner Ryan Snyder will work with town staff to craft a future density referendum that, if approved, allows him to convert the plaza’s commercial zoning to tourism use.

The future referendum, which will most likely be held in November 2016, would ask voters to allow the conversion of the property from commercial to tourism/residential use, with a maximum density not to exceed six units per acre.

The zoning conversion would make the site eligible for additional tourism units in the town’s 250 tourism unit pool.

Snyder spent more than $10,000 and a good portion of the summer investigating his commercial parcel. At the time, he scrutinized it to determine whether a 100-room boutique hotel would work on the north end — and concluded that it was not feasible.

But Snyder said he’s had enough interest lately from two parties about building a condominium hotel concept for the property that he wants the referendum to obtain proper zoning for such a venture.

Those two interested parties, Snyder said, have expressed an interest for developing 50 to 70 one- and two-bedroom condo units on the property with a 24-hour reception desk and the possibility of a restaurant and meeting space onsite.

Snyder received consensus from the Longboat Key Town Commission at its workshop Monday to craft language with Town Attorney Maggie Mooney-Portale and Planning, Zoning and Building Director Alaina Ray for a future density referendum for the property. The commission will review that language next month.

Snyder is also seeking the commission waive a requirement to collect signatures to hold the future zoning referendum.

Snyder wants to hold either a mail-only referendum or is willing to put the referendum forward to a vote at the November 2016 general election.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].