Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

City asks county for help buying pier

Crystal River and county leaders have often differed on development issues, but city officials hope they can agree on the need to keep Pete's Pier public.

By CATHERINE E. SHOICHET
Published January 19, 2006

CRYSTAL RIVER - For years, the city of Crystal River and Citrus County government have been at odds over development issues - specifically, the annexing of land to make way for a Wal-Mart.

Now the city is reaching out to the county for help thwarting the would-be developer of Pete's Pier on Kings Bay.

"The City Council of the City of Crystal River would like to assure continued public access to Kings Bay and Crystal River through public ownership of the Pete's Pier property," Crystal River City Manager Phil Deaton wrote in a letter last week.

In the letter, Deaton asked Citrus County Administrator Richard Wesch "if there is any interest in a joint effort to acquire and operate the Pete's Pier property in order to assure continued water access for the boating public of Citrus County."

Wesch said Wednesday that he had not yet responded to the letter.

He said he would circulate it among members of the County Commission and seek their advice.

Commission Chairman Gary Bartell said he was still reviewing the proposal. But he said if the county signed on, it would mark a significant shift in priorities.

The county has already dedicated park impact fee money to improvements to other projects in that area.

"I think it would be counterproductive to what we're trying to do up there," Bartell said. "I'm not willing to reprioritize at this point."

Representatives from NEHI Investments LLC unveiled sketches of a six-story resort hotel in November at the Kings Bay site in November.

Since then, local activists and officials have expressed concerns that the facility could destroy the city's small-town atmosphere, negatively affect nearby waterways and wildlife and restrict public access to the water.

City officials have discussed buying the property, but a survey has not yet been conducted to determine its worth.

In October, Deaton said the asking price was about $11.5-million.

NEHI Investments has not submitted a new proposal for the site, but Deaton said the city may receive one before the end of the month.

Staff writer Elena Lesley contributed to this report. Catherine E. Shoichet can be reached at cshoichet@sptimes.com or 860-7309.

[Last modified January 19, 2006, 01:48:21]