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Guest Column

Developer's 'good faith' bit not working

By EDWARD CANDELA
Published October 16, 2006

Peter Spittler of Izaak Walton Investors, et al LLC (IWI) continues his media blitz. In a guest column in Wednesday's Times, he cites the need for "good faith debate" in the form of negotiations. It is nothing but hypocritical that this speculator, who began his project in secret negotiations with the former mayor and then-town attorney (a locally infamous developers' attorney), could speak of "good faith."

During that initial process, Mr. Spittler required the sellers as well as the then-mayor to maintain complete secrecy. One of the sellers was even on the Town Council at the time and did not disclose the conflict of interest until well after a new government, which included herself, was elected. Is that "good faith?"

He resolutely fails to mention the following problems: Safety and aesthetic concerns over increasing allowable density via commercial parking on town right-of-way. Placing a private sewer plant and pump stations in a Coastal High Hazard Area and flood zone while pumping tourists' effluence into someone else's back yard. Ripping up tree-lined town streets, the very essence of Yankeetown, for sewer lines. Doubling the town's population. Dredging, filling and increasing boat traffic on an Outstanding Florida Water. The list goes on and on.

The land which abuts the dry-dock property is designated wilderness, marshland and town park. The head of the canal upon which this development is proposed is a prime manatee birthing area. Does anyone have any idea of the impact that this intensive, intrusive and polluting activity will have on the endangered manatees and wetlands?

We all know the units he proposes are, or certainly will be after the development is in, condo-dwelling units, not the euphemistic "resort residential" units term used simply to get around Department of Community Affairs limitations and our Comprehensive Plan.

He often mentions benefits to the town, but has miserably failed thus far to specifically define any one of them, only referring to vague developer idioms such as "financial assistance" and "sustainable development design principles." How can we compare the value of those unknown benefits to the enormous and devastating cost due to the impact of high-density development on our little, quaint town?

At the end, he plays the lawsuit card, as usual. Give me what I want or face the consequences, he threatens, again. He also fails to mention current litigation with one of the sellers. I think it would be fair to say that townspeople feel he's going to sue no matter what.

When looking at Mr. Spittler's home in Mentor, Ohio (Google Earth), one can see he lives on a dead end road, surrounded by trees, and far away from the hustle and bustle of a resort. He probably moved there for that very reason. It is the same reason we live in Yankeetown.

No one in Yankeetown believes a property owner should be denied his rights. Many would welcome a sensibly-sized, attractive and eco-friendly development by someone who actually cares about the town, its environment and its citizens.

The current Town Council is bending over backward and working long, unpaid hours to accommodate IWI, especially considering the mess, due in no small part to IWI, left behind by the former town government. It is not the new council's fault that a flood of resignations nearly killed the town.

Mr. Spittler is utterly negligent by not considering the overwhelming feeling in the town, as evinced by the recent record-turnout, landslide mandate given to those candidates who favor by-right development, but not negotiations preceded by threats and lawsuits.

Research reveals that where Mr. Spittler and his partners go, litigation usually follows. He states he "prefers to engage in good-faith negotiations conducted with honesty and respect by all parties." What a hoot! Perhaps a look in the mirror would reveal the source of his difficulties.

So, why would someone ask for a "good faith debate" who acted in secrecy and solely for self-interest, using the threat of lawsuits as a primary negotiating tool? Beats me.

Edward Candela of Yankeetown is a candidate in the Oct. 31 election for Yankeetown Town Council. Guest columnists write their opinions on subjects that they choose, which do not necessarily reflect those of this newspaper.

[Last modified October 16, 2006, 01:23:33]