Clearwater leaders want a board to set conditions for the approval of plans for Tony Markopoulos' resort. His attorney expects no problems.
By AARON SHAROCKMAN
Published September 8, 2004
CLEARWATER - City officials will ask the Community Development Board to add conditions to its site plan approval of a controversial Clearwater Beach hotel project.
City Manager Bill Horne said the board acted incorrectly last month when it accepted Tony Markopoulos' 350-room resort plan without considering three future City Council decisions vital to the development's success.
For the project to be built, the council must still approve Markopoulos' development agreement, vacate city right of way and agree to a city-developer land swap. The site plan, which was approved 4-2 by the community board Aug. 17, hinges on all three.
Lisa Shasteen, an attorney who represents Markopoulos, said the developer has agreed to the conditions.
If the board agrees with Horne, it would add the conditions to its approval next month.
"We actually can't develop the project unless we comply with those conditions anyway," said Shasteen. "They're just trying to dot all the i's and cross all the t's. We don't have a problem with that."
If built, the resort would sit just south of the roundabout between Gulfview Boulevard and Coronado Drive and rise 14 stories over Clearwater Beach. Along with 350 hotel rooms, the $100-million Clearwater Beach Resort would include 37,000 square feet of meeting and retail space and be topped with luxury condominiums.
City staffers argued that the building's design, which would rise from the shell of several current rental properties including the Days Inn, was too massive and did not meet beach redevelopment guidelines.
Planning director Cyndi Tarapani argued before the Community Development Board last month that the building took up too much space above 100 feet.
But the board diverged from the city staff recommendation and approved the site plan, a major win for Markopoulos and the oft-stalled development.
Horne said the board should have included provisions that took into account the City Council's future work.
"If you can't get these other things, then your site plan is not approved," Horne said.
Meanwhile, City Attorney Pam Akin told the City Council last week that it should hire outside counsel to represent the Community Development Board. Currently, an assistant city attorney advises the board.
But, because "the city staff is sometimes in an adverse position to the board," Akin said, the city should have separate counsel for each.
