Letters to the Editors

Clearwater should not favor developers

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 29, 2001

As long-term citizens of Clearwater, we are baffled by the current thinking of the Clearwater City Commission concerning heavy development on Clearwater Beach, and the apparent strong favoring of developers' interests over citizen interests and simple common sense.

Our own city staff and other disaster agencies repeatedly have stressed the importance of limiting high-rise growth on our barrier islands because of the hugely increased danger of storm damage and worsening the already dreadful problem of evacuating the beaches during storm threats.

The water situation in our entire area, not just Clearwater, long ago passed serious and is now critical. Almost daily, the newspaper and television news stress the damage done to our aquifer by the prolonged drought, the urgent need to conserve and the likelihood of ever-greater restrictions on general water use. We all know that outdoor watering has been reduced from two days a week to one, and Swiftmud has already mentioned the possibility of a total ban.

We would like to hear an explanation from our elected officials as to why the citizens of Clearwater should be required to make sacrifices and accept major lifestyle modifications so that a small group of developers can profit and benefit from ill-advised construction. Who is minding the growth management store?
-- Richard and Barbara Theriault, Clearwater

Beach needs improvements, not new high-rise buildings

I keep reading about plans to build high-rise buildings on Clearwater Beach in the name of progress. Progress? What's so progressive about traffic jams, air pollution and blocked emergency exits, all of which will occur if we allow our island to be overbuilt?

Instead of using our tax money to build unneeded structures on very limited real estate, we should use that money to improve our real estate as it now exists.

Roads on Clearwater Beach are sorely in need of repair, especially South Gulfview, Hamden and Coronado. The roundabout needs to be made safer for drivers, especially our visitors who must decipher this maze while looking for their beach destinations. Auto traffic must be made safer by standardizing and enlarging address numbers.

These are just a few of the many improvements needed right now before we consider adding to the problems of Clearwater Beach -- problems that would surely come with the construction of high-rise buildings here. Let's first put our house in order before making any plans to enlarge it.
-- Fred Nassif, Clearwater Beach

Development amid restrictions represents a double standard

Re: Clearwater Beach plans are progressing, Jan. 18 story.

After I read about the possible (probable) sale of the Yacht Basin, it became quite obvious that Clearwater Beach will in the near future look like Sand Key.

However, what annoys me more than watching the beach turned into a mass of concrete high-rises is the fact that for months, all I hear is "water conservation." While all this redevelopment is going on, we citizens are being asked to conserve water. We have water restrictions now. What will it be in the future?

I am not opposed to redevelopment when it is responsible redevelopment. Our city commissioners should set the example, not the double standard.
-- JoAnna Anderson, Clearwater

Editorial was right to recognize commission

Re: A cautious commission serves residents well, Jan. 21 editorial.

Thank you for properly recognizing the excellent work by our Clearwater city commissioners in exercising due diligence on the Beach by Design development. Also, credit for a job well done needs to be shared with Interim City Manager Bill Horne and Planning Director Ralph Stone and his planning staff in their negotiations with the developers.

I hope that the usual naysayers in Clearwater and all Clearwater citizens and taxpayers read the editorial and recognize that the lessons from the downtown development referendum have been implemented. This means that all of us will benefit by avoiding higher taxes to pay for capital improvements that primarily benefit the developers and investors. We have very valuable products in both the beach and the downtown bluff, for which the city and taxpayers must be compensated.

Nice work, editor.
-- Nicholas Fritsch, Clearwater

Sunsets at Pier 60 festival enlivens Clearwater Beach

Re: Beach visit was pretty disappointing, Jan. 17 letter.

Sorry the letter writer was disappointed with Clearwater Beach. I would suggest she try visiting the beach later in the afternoon when she and her family can enjoy the daily festivities of the Sunsets at Pier 60 festival (weather permitting).

Fifteen to 30 artisans on the pier offer their hand-crafted merchandise for all ages, and you can enjoy entertainment by the area's best musicians. You can also catch in action a sand sculptor, a glass-blower, a magnificent portrait artist and a great caricature artist, and, on the weekends, catch performances by a 9-foot stilt-walker and a human volcano.

It's a very festive atmosphere, with people dancing in the sand to the beat of the music, and gorgeous sunsets, including Sunsets' tradition of the blowing of the horn-conch.

I think once they have experienced the excitement, the writer's daughter and granddaughter will ask to go back to Pier 60 again. Festival hours are two hours before and after sunset, with additional hours during special occasions.

Hope to see you all there soon.
-- Diane Anderson, Clearwater

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