Planning Board Members Get Schooled on Complexity of Issues Before Them

The city’s Planning Advisory Board has as its mission statement the following. “The Planning Board’s focus is to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors on Marco Island while managing growth and development and protecting the island’s tropical small-town character.” As part of their monthly meetings the city’s Community Affairs Director or his designee will attempt to update the board on a number of issues he and his staff are working on.

At the February 3 meeting of the Board, Director of Community Affairs Dan Smith responded to an inquiry by Board Member Hayden Dublois regarding an inquiry in regard to the status of the Collier County Caxambas Boat Launch.

Smith advised the Board that he had attended a recent meeting of the Collier County Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting to discuss vendor permits at those parks under the county control. He advised the Board that the Collier County Director of Parks and Recreation, Barry Williams, will be in attendance at the February 21 meeting of the city council to update councilors on the status of those facilities and the issues they are dealing with (that meeting is being held on Tuesday as city offices are closed on Monday due to holiday).

Smith also advised the Planning Board that Collier County has discovered in their review of County Ordinances that “commercial operations,” other than those contracted by the county, are not allowed within those public facilities. The county is reviewing that issue and Director Williams will speak to that at the meeting on February 21.

Smith also reported that he is in discussions with the county staff to allow the use of the Caxambas Ramp for kayakers. “The county will be sending me a plan for kayak use only which they would like to have considered. I am looking at amending their temporary Certificate of Occupancy for that use only, while they work through their other issues,” said Smith.

Collier County controls both the Caxambas Boat Ramp as well as Tigertail Beach, as well as the South Beach access point at Swallow Avenue and South Collier Boulevard.

Smith also responded to inquiries regarding how the city should proceed regarding zoning certificates and how a member of the public may question the city whether the appropriate requirements have been met by a commercial entity which has opened a new venture or expanded an existing operation, especially in regard to parking requirements.

The recent issues concerning Old Marco would be cited by Board member Hayden Dublois. Smith suggested for immediate information the Code Enforcement Department should be contacted to ensure the proper permits and certificates have been acquired.

The recent concerns relative to parking and safety issues in that area of the city have been a major source of discussions before the city council and the planning board over the last several months with the addition of a new restaurant in that area recently approved. The issue has reached a boiling point with neighbors who have had to endure wall to wall parking along Bald Eagle, Palm Street and now onto Edington Place in Old Marco. All of this while the Snook Inn and Marek’s undergo major renovations after Hurricane Ian and the recently approved restaurant at 1202 Bald Eagle is yet to be built.

Dan Smith explained the city was reviewing how to deal with reconciling the differences that exist now between the Marco Island Comprehensive Plan adopted in October 2021 for the city with the older Land Development Code.

“Before we address anything in the LDC we must address how we follow that code and that is where I’m beginning with the issues regarding the Zoning Certificate issues. Parking is one of those issues with the city, and until we are 100% enforcing what is on the books now it’s hard to make changes if we are not enforcing those items now,” said Smith.

“We tried to bring up the issues concerning density. We made changes and brought those to council, however council rejected them. Those changes would have been consistent with the Comprehensive Plan,” said Smith.

“All these items are in the background and being worked upon and will take some time,” advised Smith as they concluded the meeting.

Earlier in the meeting the Board re-elected Jason Bailey as Chair and Nanette Rivera as Vice-Chair for the next year.