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Resort asks waiver for beachfront water slide
By JANEL STEPHENS ST. PETE BEACH -- The TradeWinds Island Resort says its proposed water slide is approximately three stories tall and 175 feet of inflatable fun. Neighboring residents and businesses say the slide is obtrusive and clashes with the beach's serene atmosphere. The beachfront business, the city's largest, has applied for a special exception to place the attraction on its property from March through Labor Day. TradeWinds' application, to be heard Tuesday by the City Commission, is a variation of an earlier bid, which the development review board had denied. The original request put the slide at the south end of the Sirata Beach Resort, 5300 Gulf Blvd. TradeWinds general manager Keith Overton said he changed the location to the center of its property after listening to opposition from neighboring businesses. "It would be far enough away from any of our neighbors that, in our view, wouldn't compete with any of their interests," Overton said. The water slide is operated by Stephen Philp of Hippo Slide Rides in St. Petersburg. Philp said that last summer the slide averaged between 1,000 and 1,200 riders per day, Philp said. The slide costs between $2 and $2.50 per ride. The new application will be reviewed in a public hearing Tuesday, 7 p.m. in commission chambers in City Hall. If approved, the slide would be placed about 500 feet from the Seamark condominiums and about 400 feet from the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Beachfront Resort. The water slide also would become a permanent fixture on the beach during the summer, with special conditions. "We feel like this is something that seems to fit into the resort atmosphere. And as long as we have a condition that if it becomes problematic, we can eliminate it, it's something that we as a staff could support," St. Pete Beach City Manager Mike Bonfield said. Said St. Pete Beach Mayor Ward Friszolowski: "I think everyone knows that right now are trying times for our tourist industry, and we need to recognize that anything we can do to help our businesses, I would like to do at this time. Of course, we have to consider the neighboring properties and residents' concerns." Roy Siegle, who owns a condo and has lived at Seamark condominiums for 19 years, said that no matter where the water slide is located, there'll be opposition. "If it was there for a week or two, probably no one would even care," said Siegle, former vice president of the Seamark Condominium Association. "But when they want to put it up for an entire season, it just isn't appropriate for St. Pete Beach. They say we're fun spoilers but we're not. We're used to seeing the beach the way it is, and we don't want to see it changed. TradeWinds is seeking its first waiver from the City Commission since July, when Overton accused city officials of being unsupportive of TradeWinds' creative efforts to attract more tourists. In December 2000, the city also turned down the hotelier's request to add eight personal watercraft to the boat tours and parasailing already offered from the beach behind the hotel. In February 2002, commissioners unanimously rejected a proposal to launch a 37-foot Hovercraft shuttle, from the beach behind the hotel. "I think our commission is very aware and understanding of the business needs," Overton said Thursday. "In speaking with them, I know they have a good understanding of our needs. Our concern is when a handful of local protesters weighs in more heavily on their decision than what's in the interest of the business and essentially the community." TradeWinds operated the slide on and off last summer for about a month at the far south end of the Island Grand property near the Seamark. In July, commissioners turned down the hotelier's proposal to continue the water slide until Labor Day weekend. A "special event" permit gave the slide two weeks. The city gave the TradeWinds one extension but turned down a second request. Under city code, TradeWinds had to apply for a "special exception" permit, which cannot be granted temporarily, so city commissioners turned it down. "Part of the problem with the request last time was the length of time they asked for it," City Commissioner Lolly Kreider said. "I do know that the local neighbors did not look favorably about having the Hippo slide in what everyone thinks is their own back yard -- their beach," Kreider said.
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