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Port Richey fine-tuning its waterfront plans
By MATTHEW WAITE
© St. Petersburg Times, PORT RICHEY -- Slowly, and in pieces, Port Richey's plan for its waterfront is starting to take shape. The town's key pieces of real estate have been getting the most attention lately with the arrival of a second gambling boat company. During a City Council workshop before the regular meeting Tuesday night, a majority of council members said they support changing the city's laws governing parking lots that would make people with grass or rock parking lots change to a special block that allows water to drain through. While the ordinance change would extend citywide, most of the parking lots that would have to change are along the river, including both Stardancer Casino Cruises' new lot, Paradise of Port Richey's old lot, and the Hooters and Seaside Inn all along Bayview Street. Across the river, Sandals restaurant also would be affected. "I think if they are going to make a living off our city, I think they ought to make it look nice," council member Bill Bennett said about the change. And, during their meeting, the council talked about establishing separate zoning rules for the waterfront area that would allow only a small number of uses if the owners wanted to change their property in the future. The council started talking about changes to the waterfront development rules two weeks ago. At the time, how to restrict development in the waterfront area wasn't clear. The council did, however, balk at spending more than $12,000 to study the zoning changes. Mayor Eloise Taylor, who brought up the waterfront development restrictions, said the city has a waterfront plan and just needs rules put in place to guide development. Both matters will have to come back to the council, as they delayed both Tuesday night for changes and clarifications to both the waterfront plan and the parking ordinance. In other meeting news: The council passed into law a noise ordinance that has been under review, revised or tabled for more than two years. The ordinance changes noise restrictions in the city, disallows outside speakers at commercial buildings and establishes penalties for being too loud. - Staff writer Matthew Waite can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6247 or (800) 333-7505, ext. 6247.
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