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County aims for a coastal toehold

With developers rapidly grabbing chunks of waterfront land for condos, it's harder for the public to reach the water.

By WILL VAN SANT
Published June 21, 2006

CLEARWATER - Maybe the third time is the charm.

After two failed attempts since December, Pinellas County has again entered into an agreement to buy a marina.

This time, it's Belle Harbour Marina on Anclote Road in Tarpon Springs. Smaller than other marinas the county has eyed, Belle Harbour has 110 dry storage units and 18 wet slips.

As the county's coast has gone condo, boater access to open water has dwindled. The county wants to buy marinas to preserve waterfront for the public, boat lovers in particular.

But the county only wants to put down cash for marinas whose future revenues over a period of a few decades can cover initial purchase costs.

That restriction has made it difficult for the county to compete with speculators willing to pay top dollar to put condo units where a marina once stood. That obstacle, coupled with exorbitant repair costs, killed the county's last two marina bids.

This time around, County Administrator Steve Spratt had his staff review the numbers more thoroughly before bringing the proposed $3.6-million purchase before the board on Tuesday.

There's a 45-day period during which the county can further inspect the property and scour the income projections, but Spratt told commissioners the deal looked like a winner.

"This is a good one," said an eager County Commissioner Susan Latvala. "I'm excited."

But other board members complained they had learned about the proposal only late Monday and took turns blasting Spratt for not giving them time for an adequate review.

The most vocal was County Commissioner Bob Stewart, who told Spratt he felt like he had been left "out of the loop."

"There's a vacuum," Stewart said. "And all of a sudden it drops in front of us."

Spratt responded that the board had directed him to make marina purchases happen, and that in a fluid real estate market windows of opportunity open quickly and close quickly.

The explanation appeared not to satisfy the board, which, with Spratt's blessing, decided to delay a decision on another purchase their administrator proposed.

Spratt had wanted the board to enter into a contract to buy the Palm Harbor Resort on Alt. U.S. 19 in North Pinellas for $3.8-million. The resort has 16 wet slips. More important, there's a boat ramp, which are in high demand in the area.

There are also 28 RVs that rent sites at the resort. Spratt said before the meeting that the RV area would eventually have to be turned into public parking.

Board members said they had too many questions about the purchase, such as whether another boat ramp might be built there, and they decided to wait until a workshop Thursday to consider the matter.

The 5-acre resort is owned by Roy Wilson, a Canadian. Wilson bought the property in 1979. He's had offers from private developers that dwarf the county's, he said. But he has a house nearby and many friends at the resort and would hate to see condos built there.

Wilson watched the commission meeting on television from Sault Ste. Marie in Canada, just across the Michigan border.

He didn't think Spratt had done a thing wrong.

"The one guy kind of got his nose out of joint," Wilson said, referring to Stewart. "But you know, they sent these guys out to do a deal."

Will Van San can be reached at 445-4166 or vansant@sptimes.com.

[Last modified June 20, 2006, 22:15:19]