Marinas Selling Out to Hotel Developers

Dear Editor,

Please reference the e-mail below.  Have you heard of this by chance?  If this does come to fruition, this is a significant change for Key West, and puts a significant number of boat owners (me included) looking for a new Marina.  The remaining area Marina’s are either at capacity, or don’t have the facilities to handle many of the larger boats.  I’m not sure if a story exists here, but facts around such changes and new construction/development, in my opinion, would be news worthy and the greater public should hear about what is planned.  Sadly, it seems that marinas are once again under attack and being sold out for development further reducing water access.  I’d be interested to hear any facts you may know about these developments.

Thank you.

Respectfully Yours,

Mr. Stefan C. Blache

 

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” … Mark Twain

From:   Scott Clemens <[email protected]>

To:     “[email protected]”

<[email protected]>

Date:   05/30/2013 07:16 PM

Subject:        62S-1.400,  Please protect our natural resources!

To all concerned recipients;

It has come to my attention that there are several public marinas in the Key West FL area (Stock Island; unincorporated) that are in the process of being sold with the intention of removing the marinas and turning them into hotels and or condos.

These sales are happening without public notice and will displace several hundred boats and many marine businesses as well. I fall into both of these categories as I have my business and my personal boat at Oceanside Marina, located at 5950 Peninsular Ave. Key West, FL 33040. This is one of the facilities which is under contract to be sold and turned into a hotel. Other facilities include Sunset Marina located on College Rd on Stock Island, and Fish Busters, located on Front Street on Stock Island, which is an area where the local shrimp and lobster boats dock as well as sell their catch.

If these sales and rezoning of the property are allowed to happen, this will cause a financial hardship on many businesses as well as a lack of places for the residents of the area who keep their vessels at these places. This is hundreds of boats that will have no home.

As my only line of help and as my representatives in the local and state arena’s, I beg for your help! Please do not let this happen to Florida and it’s residents who live here; we who promote the wonderful resources of the area and contribute to the economic development of the area by employing people and servicing not only the residents, but the visitors as well.

Why live in Florida if you cannot enjoy it’s wonderful and beautiful resources? Can these marinas be protected by 61S-.400; Designation of Public Conservation or Recreation Lands and Waterways, without the owners of the facilities asking for it, rather the occupants asking for it?

Can we ask for or require a public meeting or hearing for the rezoning of these properties?

Florida and The Florida Keys should be a sanctuary for boaters. I hope and trust you feel the same!

Scott Clemens

President

Accurate Marine Electronics, INC

http://www.accurateme.com/

[email protected]

 

PS.  Those of you who can, please contact your reps and let them know you care!

Thank you!

CC:

Rep. Holly Raschein

Senator Dwight Bullard

Rep. Joe Garcia

Senator William (Bill) Nelson

Senator Marco Rubio