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Letter to the editor

Family's mausoleum plan would spoil a view

Lake Cycadia would be blocked for other sites.

By ELENA LESLEY, Times Staff Writer
Published January 29, 2008

TARPON SPRINGS - Commissioners will hear a proposal today that could dramatically alter the view of one of the city's waterfronts.

But the tranquil patch of land doesn't abut the Anclote River or the Gulf of Mexico. It's a small strip adjacent to Lake Cycadia, where Realtors deal in eternal resting places.

In 2004, the city entered into an agreement with the Planes family to build three private, family mausoleums on waterfront plots in Cycadia Cemetery. But members of the family recently requested permission to modify the structures planned for the three 16-by-16-foot parcels.

Instead of constructing three separate mausoleums, they now want to "place one structure over the three contiguous plots," William Planes, Regina Margulies Planes and William Planes II wrote to the city in December.

City staff recommended that commissioners deny the request because the change would "impact the enjoyment of the cemetery by everyone," said Paul Smith, assistant public services director.

Of primary concern: a single mausoleum in that location "significantly blocks lake view for existing graves and visitors," city staff wrote in a presentation the commission will see this evening.

When the Planes family purchased the plots from the city in 2004, the contract came with certain restrictions, Smith said. At the time, the family planned three small buildings with space between them - the two end structures each 8 feet tall, and the middle one 4 feet tall.

Now the family is preparing to complete construction plans. The new structure would be 27 feet wide. It would also probably exceed the 8-foot height limit in the area, Smith said. "The commission really needs to take a close look at this," he said.

Elena Lesley can be reached at elesley@sptimes.com or 727 445-4167.

[Last modified January 28, 2008, 21:26:55]