Thursday, March 08, 2007
Another Land Use Lawsuit Looming
A merchant whose attempt to open a liquor store on Upper Matecumbe Key was blocked in January by the Islamorada Village Council is fighting back. Michael Thaler entered a Jan. 11 hearing about his application for a liquor license armed with a recommendation for approval from the village Planning Department.
But he didn't have the backing of the public, and several residents spoke against allowing a liquor store at Thaler's proposed site, the old Islamorada Tackle building across the street from the Florida Keys Hurricane Memorial and Matecumbe United Methodist Church.
The Village Council ultimately denied the license in a unanimous vote, leaving Thaler in the lurch. His Two Martini's LLC bought the would-be liquor store building for $935,000 in October. In its resolution rejecting Thaler's application, the village concluded that the liquor license would "have an adverse impact on the health, safety and welfare of the citizens and residents of the village, and be detrimental to the village as a whole."
But in a petition filed early last month, Thaler's attorney, Jim Lupino, is asking the Monroe County Circuit Court to strike down the council's ruling. "It's a property rights issue. They meet all the requirements pursuant to zoning and staff recommended approval. What else is there to say?" he said. The liquor license, he says, was denied "in an arbitrary, capricious, discriminatory and unreasonable manner." And the village failed to provide "one logically valid reason for the Village Council to interfere with a property owner's right to develop or use his land as zoned." "The unfounded fears of a few residents cannot pass as a legally supported decision of what constitutes an adverse impact on the health, safety and welfare of the citizens — or what is detrimental to the community as a whole," Lupino wrote.
The village has until early April to respond to Thaler's petition. Village attorneys declined to comment.
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But he didn't have the backing of the public, and several residents spoke against allowing a liquor store at Thaler's proposed site, the old Islamorada Tackle building across the street from the Florida Keys Hurricane Memorial and Matecumbe United Methodist Church.
The Village Council ultimately denied the license in a unanimous vote, leaving Thaler in the lurch. His Two Martini's LLC bought the would-be liquor store building for $935,000 in October. In its resolution rejecting Thaler's application, the village concluded that the liquor license would "have an adverse impact on the health, safety and welfare of the citizens and residents of the village, and be detrimental to the village as a whole."
But in a petition filed early last month, Thaler's attorney, Jim Lupino, is asking the Monroe County Circuit Court to strike down the council's ruling. "It's a property rights issue. They meet all the requirements pursuant to zoning and staff recommended approval. What else is there to say?" he said. The liquor license, he says, was denied "in an arbitrary, capricious, discriminatory and unreasonable manner." And the village failed to provide "one logically valid reason for the Village Council to interfere with a property owner's right to develop or use his land as zoned." "The unfounded fears of a few residents cannot pass as a legally supported decision of what constitutes an adverse impact on the health, safety and welfare of the citizens — or what is detrimental to the community as a whole," Lupino wrote.
The village has until early April to respond to Thaler's petition. Village attorneys declined to comment.
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Wednesday, March 07, 2007
The Last Word Coming Thursday
Village Manager Gary Word won't be the next manager of the west coast Florida town of Treasure Island.
But as the Village Council prepares for a Thursday discussion about the qualifications it would look for in a new manager, Word isn't ready to say if he will accept council members' offer to rescind his January resignation, effective April 6.
"As I indicated to the council, I still want some time to discuss things with my staff and gauge public reaction," Word told The Citizen Monday, four days after he and two other finalists lost out to Reid Silverboard of Bellair Beach in the quest for the Treasure Island job.
But in what could be a positive sign for those who want the manager to stay, Word does not have any further interviews scheduled, he said. The council has given Word until Thursday to decide.
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But as the Village Council prepares for a Thursday discussion about the qualifications it would look for in a new manager, Word isn't ready to say if he will accept council members' offer to rescind his January resignation, effective April 6.
"As I indicated to the council, I still want some time to discuss things with my staff and gauge public reaction," Word told The Citizen Monday, four days after he and two other finalists lost out to Reid Silverboard of Bellair Beach in the quest for the Treasure Island job.
But in what could be a positive sign for those who want the manager to stay, Word does not have any further interviews scheduled, he said. The council has given Word until Thursday to decide.
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Tuesday, March 06, 2007
The Colony Resort Condo
The Colony, Islamorada brings the resort condo concept to the Florida Keys. The Colony is located on Upper Matecumbe Key, one of the four islands which make up Islamorada Village of Islands which is renowned for sport fishing opportunities. The Colony will have two separate areas, Oceanside, a resort condo facing the Atlantic Ocean and a boat basin with day slips for 30 boats. The Gulfside includes a full-service marina with 16 wet slips and a 70-boat dry stack storage facility and access to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Atlantic side offers gorgeous views and ocean breezes, while the Gulf side offers access to the islands of Florida Bay, Flamingo and Everglades National Park. Three are 40 residences ranging from 2,300 to over 5,800 square feet of total living space. The homes have oversized patios with summer kitchens. A dry stack slip on the Gulfside is included in the purchase price of a resort residence. Amenities include a heated infinity-edge swimming pool, business center, fitness facility, tennis and sports courts and an onsite concierge who can stock your pantry before arrival and help with travel plans.
The condos are priced from over $2 million which is a bit pricey given most of the Florida condo market currently.
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The Atlantic side offers gorgeous views and ocean breezes, while the Gulf side offers access to the islands of Florida Bay, Flamingo and Everglades National Park. Three are 40 residences ranging from 2,300 to over 5,800 square feet of total living space. The homes have oversized patios with summer kitchens. A dry stack slip on the Gulfside is included in the purchase price of a resort residence. Amenities include a heated infinity-edge swimming pool, business center, fitness facility, tennis and sports courts and an onsite concierge who can stock your pantry before arrival and help with travel plans.
The condos are priced from over $2 million which is a bit pricey given most of the Florida condo market currently.
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Labels: colony
Friday, March 02, 2007
Islamorada to Welcome Walgreens & Publix?
In a ruling that could change the face of Islamorada, a judge has struck down the village’s controversial anti-chain store law.
U.S. District Court Judge James Lawrence King on Wednesday declared unconstitutional the portion of Islamorada’s Formula Retail Ordinance that forbids chain stores larger than 2,000 square feet from opening within village boundaries. The ruling does not affect Islamorada’s ban on new chain restaurants. Read More>>
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U.S. District Court Judge James Lawrence King on Wednesday declared unconstitutional the portion of Islamorada’s Formula Retail Ordinance that forbids chain stores larger than 2,000 square feet from opening within village boundaries. The ruling does not affect Islamorada’s ban on new chain restaurants. Read More>>
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Labels: home depot, islamorada, publix, walgreens
