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Letter to the editor

St. Pete Beach growth battles cloud election

By Nick Johnson, Times Staff Writer
Published March 10, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT "Consequently the last year has been nothing but fighting and paying for attorneys," said Mayor Ward Friszolowski, who is not seeking re-election. Michael Finnerty, a commissioner who once supported the CRG's cause, is running for mayor.

Long known for its colorful sunsets, picturesque beach and pink landmark hotel, St. Pete Beach in recent years has begun to take on several less desirable attributes.

An ugly power struggle has consumed commissioners and residents alike, leaving the city mired in costly lawsuits and coping with unintended results of a charter amendment fight.

"Some people I think are just fighting to fight," said Linda Chaney, a commissioner who has been at the center of many heated debates.

Changes to the city's comprehensive plan require final approval from the residents. The charter amendment was the result of petitions brought by the Citizens For Responsible Growth, a political action group.

The group formed after city commissioners passed a comprehensive plan in 2004 that allowed for increased building height and density. CRG's petitions brought about the repeal of that plan and won for residents the right to vote on future changes.

The city fought the petitions, resulting in about $250,000 in legal fees. The dispute finally ended with a decision by the 2nd District Court of Appeals in CRG's favor.

While the case was in litigation, three CRG-backed candidates, including current Commissioners Linda Chaney and Harry Metz, were elected to the City Commission.

"CRG has gotten candidates in, and their position has no flexibility, and that's dangerous," Mayor Ward Friszolowski said.

In the meantime, another political action group, Save Our Little Village, which favors development, formed and has petitioned to amend the comprehensive plan.

The new petitions have led to more lawsuits, more anger and frustration in city politics.

"Consequently the last year has been nothing but fighting and paying for attorneys," said Friszolowski, who is not seeking re-election.

Now the city is on the eve of electing a new mayor and two new commissioners, with candidates split over the same development issues that have plagued the current commission.

"When I didn't vote with what they thought was in the best interests of the city, I would get serious disparaging remarks from CRG members," said Michael Finnerty, a commissioner who once supported the group's cause.

Finnerty, who is running for mayor, had decided to give up on politics before the recent clashes over the city's future.

This test case for land use law has encountered unforeseen obstructions beyond just the mounting legal fees and political division.

This year alone there have been three comprehensive plan changes mandated by the state Legislature, all of which will have to be voted on by St. Pete Beach residents before they become effective.

The city is out of compliance on one of them, which will be voted on Tuesday during the city's municipal election. The other two will likely require a special election this summer in an effort to meet deadlines set by the Legislature.

"The question becomes, 'what is the repercussion to the city,'" said Karl Holly, community development director. "There's no doubt that this, from a logistical standpoint, could continue to be a problem over time."

Florida Hometown Democracy, a petition effort to amend the State Constitution requiring every local government in Florida to operate in a similar fashion to St. Pete Beach, won't likely make it to ballots this year but could go before voters in 2010.

Florida Hometown Democracy's leader, Ross Burnaman, dismissed the notion that special elections would be needed, saying the Department of Community Affairs would never enforce the deadlines and that the amendments should be voted on as part of a yearly cycle.

"These are long-term plans. They're not supposed to be amended willy-nilly," Burnaman said.

Meanwhile, the St. Pete Beach Commission recently sent the comprehensive plan proposed by the SOLV group to the city's planning board, in an attempt to avoid a judge-ordered special election the group is seeking.

Chaney said the planning board could be the first step in a public process that could lead to compromise, approval of the residents and an end to the deadlock over development.

Nick Johnson can be reached at nickjohnson@sptimes.com or 893-8361.

The races

Mayor: Mike Finnerty vs. Ed Ruttencutter

Commissioner, District 1: Deborah Louise Edney vs. Allan Halpern

Commissioner, District 3: Jim Anderson vs. Christopher Leonard

[Last modified March 10, 2008, 06:48:21]