July Planning Board Meeting

The city’s planning board met Friday, July 12 to deal with a few issues, which included two requests for boat dock extensions and one for approval of an RV garage.

Prior to that, Daniel Smith, the Director of Growth Management for the city, reported that three items for the August 2 board meeting would include a presentation on a Site Development Plan for the demolition of the old Collier Tax Collector’s Office on Winterberry Drive. That building was severely damaged two years ago by Hurricane Ian. Another Site Development Plan is being proposed by the YMCA for a new building on their campus on Sand Hill Street. Finally, the owner of an empty lot on South Collier Boulevard is requesting a rezone of that lot from C1 to C2.

During new business, the Vantage Point Condo Association asked for an additional 6.5 ft. encroachment into the waterway for their boat docking facility located at 860 Panama Court. The condo association would be replacing its entire present seawall wall by installing a vinyl wall ahead of its present cement panel walls, leaving the old wall in place. In 2001, the city approved an extension that allowed a total of 30 feet from the seawall. Today’s request would actually be asking for an additional 1.5” foot extension, making the total protrusion 31.5 feet from the existing wall. The original seawall is approaching 50 years in age from the original construction.

All neighbors had been notified per requirements of city zoning ordinances; Vice Chair Rivera would drive a conversation regarding the impact of the protrusion of the 1.5 feet into the waterway. It was explained that the wall-in-front-of-the-wall construction method has become the system of choice today, which provides a safer method due to unknown variables, explained Jeff Rogers from Turrell-Hall and Associates, the Marine Engineering Firm.

When Vice Chair Rivera began a line of questioning that began a process to redesign the docking facility, she was advised by the board’s attorney that she should stick to the request before them and that the board’s responsibility was not to “re-engineer” the request before the board.

The board approved the request by a 3-1 vote, with Rivera in opposition. Board members Fahringer, Hogan, and Vergo approved. Board members Bailey Dublois and Finkle were absent.

The second request for approval of a boat dock encroachment into the rear riparian setback for property located at  742 Pelican Court came to the board with a staff recommendation for denial. Staff’s concern was for future possible issues regarding the neighbors and their potential boat docks. The present boat moored at 742 Pelican Court, is a Power Catamaran vessel that is 43 ft. long and 22 ft. wide. The present owner is replacing that vessel with a similar one, which will be two feet wider and 3 feet longer. 

The owner’s desire is to have a safer environment in which to operate the vessel during stormy weather. The present vessel does not have an enclosed helm for operation of the vessel below that of the flybridge. The new vessel will accommodate that requirement but requires him to dock it 2.5’ in additional width.

The owner of the boat has received letters of support regarding his request from neighbors on the canal on which he shares navigation rights along the waterway.

Staff recommendation for denial was based upon potential problems in the future. The board would override their recommendation and voted to send the request to the council with a recommendation for approval by a 4-0 vote.

The final request before the board dealt with a request for permission to allow an RV garage at 1960 San Marco Road. After minimal discussion, the board unanimously approved the request by a 4-0 vote.

The board meets next on August 2 in Council Chambers beginning at 9:00 AM. The public is invited and may participate during public input.