- May 4, 2024
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Come on Longboat Key voters!
Let’s fix this eyesore and tired, old property — the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort — and let Chuck Whittall and his Unicorp National Developments Corp. build a new, fresh and exciting resort and condos!
This developer has jumped through every hoop and every barrier thrown up by the “old islanders” who have the mentality of “I have my bit of paradise and I don’t want anybody else to have theirs.”
Vote yes to allow the old Colony property to become a new Longboat Key gem.
Also, let’s let the Longboat Key Club and Resort execute its “long suffering” remodel and renovation project.
These projects will only raise everyone’s property values and add more value to our quality of life on Longboat.
John Saputo, Longboat Key
I first fell in love with Longboat Key 17 years ago and recommended it to my relatives, who in return have since purchased more than five residences.
I purchased a residence at the Aquarius Club in May 2015. Prior to my purchase I inquired with the town clerks and officials in my due diligence. They all assured me that whatever is developed at the defunct Colony site would be within current setbacks and density. My research now tells me that all those assurances could be violated with the introduction of a Planned Unit Development.
This is most troubling to my family of six who was planning on moving down there full time. In an area that is already challenged at times with high occupancy thoroughfares and parking lots, this bloated project makes no sense. I am not adverse to redevelopment but implore the town officials as well as town people to do everything in their power to align this project to the character of the LBK traditional serene nature. If the town allows any developer to shoehorn in four times a normal occupancy per acre by design, imagine the precedent that will be in place for dozens of other real estate ventures currently in the wings.
Louis Shapiro, Longboat Key
As longtime visitors to Longboat Key, and now owners at The Aquarius Club, my husband and I are vehemently opposed to the current and massive Colony redevelopment plans. Over the years and especially immediately following the purchase of our unit, we enjoyed many privileges resulting from our proximity to the Colony. In view of the pleasant relationship we had with our then-neighbors, we do not oppose reconstruction of the Colony resort per se.
However, based upon the current proposal, we will be facing a monumental increase in the volume of traffic resulting from the proposed 417 units to include owners, guests and families, over 200 daily employees, service vehicles, and event attendees. Of note as well is the congestion resulting from a ballroom that will hold 1,000 guests.
It is our opinion that this will significantly change life as we know it on our peaceful and beloved Longboat Key. We encourage all Longboat Key voters to vote no March 14.
Deana and Richard Schiffer, Longboat Key
Perusing the town code for another matter, I ran across the guidelines for the various categories of residential density. The referendum proposes, and your paper recommends, 10 units for the 1.8 acres at 5350 GMD. That would roughly equate to a single-family high-density district called R-6SF, meaning six units per acre. Reading the text of the paragraph defining R-6SF, and comparing it to the other defined residential categories, R-6SF is the only category that specifically refers to considering “an intensity which is consistent with the carrying capacity of Gulf of Mexico Drive.”
Isn’t that the factor that we are all complaining about? I’ll bet there are times when the northbound traffic is backed up all the way to 5350 GMD. I know it has been backed up to where I live, which is 5820 GMD, and that at certain times I have to carry sandwiches just to get out onto GMD, let alone go anywhere.
Where is George Soros when you need him to round up and pay for some hell-raising protesters?
Weldon G. Frost, Longboat Key
Longboat Key traffic is not the problem. The sources of the traffic chaos are north and south of Longboat Key, and the situation is about to get much worse.
North of LBK is Bradenton Beach, which extends for several miles up to Cortez. Hundreds of cars populate the beach parking lots during the morning, and they all leave between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Getting on and off LBK from the north is horrible.
South of LBK is St. Armands, and over the bridge one lands in the center of Sarasota, where traffic is often bumper to bumper for much of the day.
But the traffic issues now are mild compared to the problems that will arise when thousands of new homes and condos are built north and south of Cortez Road, east and west of 75th Street. Bradenton Beach will be the choice of these new residents who want to enjoy the Gulf of Mexico.
The southern route to and from LBK will also be much worse than it is now because of huge new residential developments in downtown Sarasota.
The only real solution is a tunnel or a bridge/causeway. An ideal new route would be a road from the foot of State Road 70 to a tunnel or bridge/causeway across the bay at the north end of Longboat Key around Whitney Beach.
A tunnel should be seriously considered. The facility should be private for people who reside or work on Longboat Key with a nominal toll. Other people would be charged $10 each way.
Longboat Key residents are being encouraged to vote against the Colony restoration project, mainly because of the traffic. It is a fact that a five-star facility on the Colony property would be a very attractive development.
Jack Wilson, Longboat Key
I am strongly opposed to this referendum because it will be detrimental to Longboat Key, and I encourage all of my fellow Longboat Key residents to VOTE NO on this referendum.
After an extensive search of many Florida coastal communities, my fiancé and I decided to make Longboat Key our retirement home. We own three condominiums on LBK and had planned to make LBK our primary and permanent residence when we retire in the near future. Depending on the outcome of this referendum and the potential over commercialization of the Key, we may have to reconsider.
The beauty of LBK lies in its quiet, tranquil setting and the natural beauty of its barrier beach. Passing of this referendum can potentially change the whole flavor of the Key. Unicorp is proposing a mega resort that belongs on Miami Beach. Not only will that one project change LBK for the worse in terms of traffic, shopping center congestion, overuse of the beach, excessive heavy commercial traffic, etc., but this opens the door for over 40 other sites on the Key to apply and get approval for similar density increases leading to extreme overdevelopment of the Key. Those of us who live in LBK already know the traffic congestion that occurs at both bridges during prime times. Certainly a tourism resort of this size, with 417 families totaling more than a thousand tourists year round, would be catastrophic for the traffic load and the over congestion at the Publix facility.
We, the residents of LBK, should be grateful for the actions of the Town Commission in 1985 for passing the ordinance to reduce the density on the key to six units per acre. It did this to preserve the peace [and order] and tranquility and charm of Longboat Key, as that action was consistent with the Town Charter and because it was in the best interest of the town and its citizens. If this referendum passes, the town will be forced to grant the developer permission to violate the height restrictions and building setbacks in order to fit 417 units on that parcel of 17.3 acres. Unicorp’s proposal of multiple 12-story buildings (on top of three levels of above ground parking garages, totaling 15 stories at 166 feet high) would be obscene to say the least. That would be akin to the mega resorts that one would see on Miami Beach, and surely not something we would want to have on Longboat Key. The video proposal made public by Unicorp shows multiple 166-foot-high towers that would be taller than the three high-rise towers at Water Club and The Promenade.
If the Town Commission grants permission/permits for such a mega resort, that action would be in direct opposition to the Town Charter relative to preserving peace and order on the Key. I am not an attorney, but in my opinion there could be precedent for legal liability against the town that would ultimately be very costly to us taxpayers.
Make no mistake about it, only Mr. Whittall will benefit from this project. He is not from Longboat Key nor do I believe he cares about Longboat Key. Clearly his interests lie in personal monetary gain that would be at our expense.
The recently developed Aria condominium (across from Publix complex), which is in conformance with the current allowable density, has units selling for greater than $4 million each. This type of development is not only beautiful and minimizes the impact to the Key, but also provides for a great tax contribution. A NO vote on this referendum would lead developers of the Colony to consider a similar type of resort that would ultimately be more beneficial to our beautiful Key.
I urge you to vote no on March 14. Anything other than a no vote on this referendum would threaten the peace and tranquility of our Key as we know it. This resort, and future resorts like it that would follow suit, would dramatically change the charm of Longboat Key to all of our detriment.
Frank A. DeQuattro, DMD, Longboat Key
