Commissioners Green Light Capri Development

It took until after 10:00 PM for the Board of County Commissioners to get through their day but in the end, after six plus hours of testimony from the developer and residents, approved the proposed Isles of Capri development unanimously. Specifically, the decision amends the Growth Management Plan to allow for a mixed-use designation at the property site, which needed to be done before they could then change the zoning from C3 commercial to mixed use/residential.

FCC Beach and Yacht, LLC made some concessions from their original proposal, bringing the height down from 168 feet to 122 feet and 108 units to 80 units. Those concessions satisfied the staff’s initial density concerns and so they recommended approval for the design. Another staff sticking point was the absence of affordable housing within the design. The developer has agreed to put $5,000 per unit towards the Affordable Housing Fund.

Rich Yovanovich, attorney for FCC, reiterated many of the same points during the Planning Commission meeting in September; disagreeing with the staff’s zoning and growth management interpretation; the enhancements the project would bring to the community; the attempts to work with residents on altering the main design but being rebuffed; and the overall compatibility of the project to the area. He said that after the Planning Commission denial, he reached out to Mike Bosi, Planning and Zoning Director, on the project obstacles. Bosi indicated that the real issue was the height of the buildings which helped precipitate the change in design. Even with that change, the staff was still reluctant to approve because of the lack of the stipulated affordable housing component. Yovanovich then agreed to the $5,000 per unit affordable housing contribution. It was acknowledged that the project is in county compliance as far as traffic and safety.

Isles of Capri residents showed up in force at 9:00 AM and stayed the course, waiting until 4:00 PM to have their say. At one point there were over 70 people registered to speak. The change in building height was a surprise to many who had just heard about it that morning. Their comments ranged from the density being way out of line to the area, the lack of benefit to the residents, and height incompatibility with the other structures on the Isles. Many residents described the bucolic ambience of Capri that would be diminished by three large buildings. They also expressed concern that approval would set a precedent for future large-scale high-rise development. It was just after 8:00 PM when they finished and Commissioners took up the discussion.

Newly seated Chairman Rick LoCastro, Commissioner for District One, asked staff to “paint a picture” of what a C3 retail establishment would look like. Bosi said that a C3 designation could be anything and wouldn’t need public vetting, just administrative approval. LoCastro, along with the other commissioners, believed residential a better use for the space with Commissioner Saunders pointing out that a commercial restaurant with loud music was a permitted use and not necessarily something the community would want. Traffic was another area where Commissioners felt the residential footprint was better than commercial.

Commissioners also felt the sewer and culvert enhancement was a huge benefit to the community. LoCastro pointed out that the discussion on improved sewers should have been happening years ago. Newly elected District Four Commissioner, Daniel Kowal, made a point to Yovanovich that while the $5,000 per unit was a nice concession, it wasn’t going to solve the county’s affordable housing problem.

In the end, Commissioner McDaniel made the motion to approve with these stipulations: the building has to be no more than 122 feet and 80 units; the developer must contribute the $5,000 per unit affordable housing component; and they must stick to providing the culverts and sewer line enhancements that will have the capacity to service the entire island. If Isles of Capri forgoes the culverts and sewer enhancements, that money will go into the Affordable Housing fund. The motion passed unanimously.

Repeal of 60 Day Rent Increase Notice 

Earlier in the day, Commissioners also took up the 60-day written landlord notice to tenants they passed in October. Newly elected Commissioner Chris Hall brought it up for repeal, citing government overreach. Commissioners voted 4-1 to repeal, with Commissioner Saunders the lone dissenting vote. The county is still grappling with the affordable housing issue.