Clearwater April 17th Results

According to Save our Shoppes , On April 17th, the Mayor and City Council members of Clearwater voted to down the increase of hotel rooms on property zoned commercial and voted to allow 110 hotel rooms per acre for property zoned tourist. What is the effect of this vote to Sand Key and Island Estates? The Shoppes on Sand Key property and commercial property on Island Estates, including the Publix shopping center, will not be as attractive to a developer for the building of hotels. The increase in hotel rooms to the Marriott and Sheraton is as follows:
Marriott = existing rooms 220 + hotel density increase 383
Sheraton =existing rooms 390 + hotel density increase 750
610 1133
Total potential hotel rooms on the north end of Sand Key: 610 + 1133 = 1743
The City Council members and Mayor assured over four hundred residents who were present at the meeting there were sufficient levels of review that would guarantee that any future development would be carefully scrutinized. In addition, representations were made that a lesser number of rooms would be approved by the City for the Marriott and Sheraton after other building criteria were met.
The SOS Committee is investigating the referendum process to repeal the action taken by the City Council and Mayor regarding the Sheraton and Marriott. No decision has been made at this time how to proceed.
The owner of the Shoppes on Sand Key has filed an appeal of the action taken by the City Council and Mayor March 20, 2008 to deny the application to zone the property tourist.
The volunteers of the SOS Committee wish to extend much appreciation to all who supported and participated in this process. We know the Mayor and City Council were sincere in trying to strike a balance between the competing interests of the residents and the expansion of the Marriott and Sheraton.
Please continue to visit this website for future developments and actions by the SOS Committee.