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Olive branches are offered in Treasure Island battle
By KATHY SAUNDERS TREASURE ISLAND -- In the monthslong civil war here over big buildings on the beach, the combatants last week made several overtures at compromise. On Tuesday, city commissioners said they would impose a six-month stay on new development regulations that they hustled through in October to short-circuit a voters' referendum. The moratorium, which would take at least two weeks to adopt, temporarily prevents developers from getting permits for 10-story towers along the gulf front. Boat captain Larry Hoffman then said he withdrew his lawsuit against the city for allowing the referendum on the ballot. "In good faith, I dropped the lawsuit hoping we could concentrate on fixing the LDRs (land development regulations) and hopefully healing the city," Hoffman said. "It's quite obvious that the city isn't interested in tall buildings, but I think there's another way to skin that cat." Sunset Beach residents Ray Green and Mike Daughtry offered up their idea for compromise late last week. They successfully campaigned to give redevelopment power to voters and now are suing to stop the city from enforcing its new land use rules. They will ask commissioners to put an ordinance before the voters in March that gives citizens the right to approve any height or density changes, but removes the high threshold for approval. A majority of the votes cast would rule the day, rather than a majority of all registered voters. Daughtry said that, in the meantime, he and Green won't back away from their lawsuit until they are convinced the commission will accept that the voters have the final say over beachfront construction. "If this isn't accepted, then we will let the courts decide," Daughtry said. "We would love to drop the suit." City Manager Chuck Coward said commissioners would have time to put another ordinance before the voters in March if they approve the wording for the ballot next month. Mayor Leon Atkinson and Commissioners Butch Ellsworth and Barbara Blush stood by their previous decision. They indicated the moratorium is as far as they would go. Ellsworth and Blush said they were pleased that the two sides are coming together, but both say they prefer the development rules adopted in October and don't want to see them dismissed. Atkinson said Daughtry and Green's proposal provides no incentives for new businesses. He and island merchants say the city needs new, taller hotels to draw more tourists and support the local economy. Commissioner Mary Maloof, who said Thursday she will run for mayor in March, said she supports the new proposal from Concerned Citizens of Treasure Island. Daughtry said he is backing Maloof for mayor. George Makrauer, a former city commissioner who too wants to be mayor, agrees with the plan. "That gives the vote back to the people," Makrauer said. "The previous voting disenfranchised everyone." Atkinson hasn't decided if he will run again.
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