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2 of 5 beach projects okayed

The Clearwater Community Development Board considers five redevelopments in a meeting that lasts nearly seven hours.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN
Published June 23, 2005

CLEARWATER - As if anyone needed more convincing that big changes on Clearwater Beach were inevitable, the city's planning board weighed five more redevelopments proposed for the barrier island.

All would bring more condominiums and townhomes to the island. All would include bigger buildings, one by more than 100 feet tall.

"Clearwater Beach is under construction," said Housh Ghovaee, president of Northside Engineering Services, a Clearwater firm involved with several of the beach projects. "We're trying to form and create something in Clearwater, but it's going to take a little time. The citizens need to understand that."

During a meeting that stretched on for nearly seven hours Tuesday, the Community Development Board okayed two of the redevelopments. It rejected one, saying the building was too massive. A fourth project didn't have enough votes either way.

And the fifth? Well by then, there weren't enough board members to even take a vote.

Together, the projects stand to add 154 residences to a beach moving away from its primarily transient past. Spanning the length of the beach from north to south, the new condominiums will blend in with $1-billion worth of projects already planned or under way.

Already, it's hard to distinguish one from the next.

Here's a breakdown of the five projects Community Development Board members considered Tuesday.

DECISION: Approved with conditions (4-1)

LOCATION: 19 and 21 Somerset St. (North Beach)

UNITS: 14 condominiums

HEIGHT: 50 feet

REPLACES: Former McCracken's Apartment Motel

DISCUSSION: The city's planning staff and the Community Development Board approved the project with the condition the developer remove a series of rooftop pavilions that appear to make the building 62 feet tall. Board member Alex Plisko voted against the project, with or without the pavilions. "This is overuse of the property," he said. "Here we are again - going to put box after box after box."

DECISION: Approved (unanimous)

LOCATION: 130 Brightwater Drive (South Beach)

UNITS: 9 Townhomes

REPLACES: Former Shore Point Motel

DISCUSSION: No discussion. The board's decision amends earlier approvals related to the nine-unit townhome project.

DECISION: Denied (4-1)

LOCATION: 706 Bayway Blvd. (South Beach)

UNITS: 16 condominiums

HEIGHT: 87.3 feet

REPLACES: 16 residences

DISCUSSION: A majority of the board members believed the 8-story building was too dense for the .35-acre site that backs up to Clearwater Harbor. One board member, J.B. Johnson, said in voting for the development that the board previously approved similar requests. "It's a project that I think will certainly enhance the neighborhood," Johnson said.

DECISION: No decision

LOCATION: 657 Bay Esplanade (North Beach)

UNITS: 13 townhomes

HEIGHT: 64 feet

REPLACES: Seven apartments

DISCUSSION: Board members voted 3-2 to approve the project, but four votes were needed. As a result, the request will be heard again next month. The developer, Menna Development, believes its condominium is consistent with the surrounding neighborhood and comparable to other approved area projects. The city's staff contends the project is too tall for the beach's northern transitional neighborhood, called the Old Florida District.

DECISION: No decision

LOCATION: 325 S Gulfview Blvd. (South Beach)

UNITS: 102 condominiums

HEIGHT: 148 feet in one tower, 64 feet in a second building

REPLACES: Several hotels, including the Howard Johnson Express Inn

DISCUSSION: Board members were prepared to approve the project at the end of their meeting Tuesday, but member Alex Plisko had to recuse himself because of a conflict of interest. The board then could not approve the project with only four voting members. The item will be reheard next month.

[Last modified June 23, 2005, 00:46:08]