Are we keeping Longboat, Longboat?

Are we keeping Longboat, Longboat?

Now that the town Planning and Zoning Board has approved the very first multilevel parking garage on our pristine island of Longboat Key, directly across the street from a multimillion dollar single-family neighborhood, it is time for all island residents to get involved and ask the Town Commission to revisit the town’s mission statement to “Keep Longboat, Longboat!” and deny the St. Regis multilevel parking garage permit application.

As a sympathetic, old, retired CEO of Universal Orlando Resort and other theme park resort developments, this is just plain wrong from a process, operational and harmonious land-use standpoint.

First, nothing significant or material has changed from the long ago approved St. Regis project and business plan. So why this drastic solution to a perceived new problem? Answer: The original resort application would not have been approved with this additional parking and a multilevel parking garage right on GMD directly across from South Bay Isles. It is simply “another bite at the apple.”

Yes, there was a minor permit mistake in the allocation of 60 some cars from one side of the development to the other, but why the request for incremental parking and a multilevel parking garage only 57 feet from GMD, again, across from a residential neighborhood? (Incidentally, the upper portion of cars on the top floor will be visible from adjacent properties and the proposed garage landscape screening will not be really effective for many years, if ever.)

Yes, the originally permitted use of some electric lifts for valet car stacking could possibly slow valet service, which can easily be resolved with more dedicated valets to that specific operation. Why should a solvable operational problem be
a Longboat Key resident aesthetic problem?

Why not get some St. Regis real world operating experience before trying to fix some perceived problem with a drastic and unnecessary solution? A good plan has already been approved and is well along in construction.

In addition and pivotal, it is inarguable that allowing the first commercial multilevel parking garage to be constructed on our island is precedent-setting. This newly proposed parking structure, in addition to the already approved building mass of the St. Regis project, is striking compared to the Colony Resort, a shock to many.
More building mass should not be allowed on this already visually crowded site.

Clearly, this proposed parking structure is not in keeping with the town of Longboat Key’s inalterable mission statement to “Keep Longboat, Longboat”.

This is job No. 1 for our elected Town Commission. Yes, the St. Regis Resort will be a real asset to our community and hats off to Chuck Whitall and Unicorp, the developers, for their tireless efforts on this complex improvement project and
their efforts to mitigate neighbor resident concerns. We hope that approach continues.

In closing, please, everyone, write town commissioners and make your voices heard before and at the May 1 Town Commission meeting. We do not need or want a multilevel parking garage on Longboat Key ... anywhere.

To our commissioners and P&Z, thank you for your service to our beautiful community.
— Bob Gault, Longboat Key

It's more than a timing issue

I am a 30-year condominium owner and four-year resident on Longboat Key.

After spending the entire day at the Planning and Zoning Board meeting April 18 regarding a proposed parking garage at the St. Regis property. I felt compelled to share my concerns. After processing the St. Regis applicant’s presentation, I have two points to make.

First, the applicant shared that the existing plan allows for temporary overflow parking on the outdoor event area. This minimizes the need for the additional 50 new parking spaces proposed for the new parking garage.

Second, the applicant demonstrated a significant concern over a timing issue. He said it takes a valet 7.5 minutes to retrieve a car from a lift and return it to the owner. Whereas, if a valet retrieves a car from the parking garage, it takes four minutes to return a car to the owner. My conclusion here is that the 3.5 minutes shaved off the time it takes a valet to retrieve a car is more important than the concerns of the residents of Longboat Key and those who voiced their concerns at the meeting. This is very disappointing. I was under the impression that the Planning and Zoning Board looked out for the interests of the town and its residents. It seems that I was sadly mistaken.

In addition, a parking structure is not consistent with the aesthetic standards I have observed on Longboat Key over the past 30 years. This also sets a precedent for future construction. I would sincerely appreciate the Longboat Key commissioners’ thoughtful consideration regarding the construction of a parking garage in our beautiful town.

— Jackie Michaelides, Longboat Key

Elephant on the island

We think the St. Regis will be an amazing place and a big plus for our beloved Longboat Key, but we are shocked at the possibility of town government approving a three-story parking garage right on Gulf of Mexico Drive anywhere on the island for any reason. I think we can all agree that it is not in keeping with the charm that is literally everywhere on LBK, differentiating us from other islands. We believe that ownership knew they were going to want this garage from the beginning but knew that if it were part of the original proposal it would have been vetoed. 

We hope this garage is shutdown because we believe it is aesthetically wrong. There are other ways to accommodate the needed parking. Please do not allow this precedent-setting, three-story garage to be built.

— Todd and Libby Rieke, Longboat Key