Save Smack's Bayou

Snell Isle Apartments Marina Public Hearing Scheduled for April 7th.  2:00 P.M. City Council Chambers.

Many of our residents probably remember last summer's fight with the Snell Isles Apartments and their application to install a 50-slip marina in Smacks Bayou.  (Smacks Bayou lies between the 40th Ave Bridge and the Snell Isle Bridge)  The Development Review Commission (DRC) rejected that proposal in August 2009.  (St. Pete Times Article link)  The Shore Acres and Eden Isle Civic Associations were strongly opposed to this 50-slip marina.

Here we are just a few months after that hearing, and the Laramar Group has applied to the DRC for 44 docks.  This is basically the same site plan as last summer with 6 fewer slips.  Maps showing the current marina configuration can be found:  www.shoreacresflorida.com or www.savesmacksbayou.org.

Normally, the DRC requires 18 months between applications, but City staff felt that a reduction from 50 docks to 44 docks was a "substantial" change.

The applicant has not attempted to contact any of the surrounding neighborhood associations prior to this application.  This is not just a Shore Acres, Patrician Point, Eden Isle, or Snell Isle issue.  This marina will affect all of us that enjoy Smacks Bayou.

I have always recognized that the landowner should be afforded some equitable use of their waterfront property.  Forty-four docks is far greater than the existing per-lot density of docks on Eden Isle and I still oppose this plan, as proposed, due to the fact that it will give one single landowner greater access to the bayou than the single-family residences on the bayou are currently afforded.  This increased density of docks will degrade the waterfront experience for all of our long-time residents, while lining the pockets of the marina owner.

At the April 7th public hearing, the DRC has three options:  they can approve the 44-slips as proposed, modify the application to restrict the number of docks, or reject the proposal as they did in August 2009.

What can you do?

•  Send an E-mail or Call Now: E-mails from you will be included in the DRC package, as long as they are received prior to Monday March 29.  You can email Mr. Robert Gerdes (Planner with City of St. Pete) at Robert.Gerdes@stpete.org (by phone at 727-892-5948).   Even though you may have sent an email prior to the last hearing, please send another one since this is technically a new application.  This is crucial to let the DRC know that the residents are still against this marina.  Please forward this e-mail to your neighbors.  Be sure to reference "Snell Isle Marina" in your e-mails to city staff.

• Legal Help: The opposition could use your help if you are a land-use attorney or if you can assist with hiring an attorney.  The applicant has hired high-powered consultants and attorneys to get this proposal passed through the DRC.   Several people approached me during last summer's hearing offering financial and legal help.  The time is NOW to follow through.  Please contact us via www.savesmacksbayou.org or membership@shoreacresflorida.com.

•  E-mail our elected officials. This is a DRC issue and doesn't have much to do with our elected officials, but it couldn't hurt to email Councilmember Dudley (council@stpete.org) and Mayor Bill Foster (mayor@stpete.org).  Both Councilmember Dudley and Mayor Foster are well aware of the longtime struggle to keep a marina out of Smack's Bayou. 

•  Show up in person at the DRC hearing (2:00 Wednesday April 7th, City Council Chambers, City Hall 175 Fifth St. N.. You will be afforded 2 minutes to speak your mind.  At the last hearing we had more than 75 residents speak and hopefully we can have a greater turn out. 

Thank you for your continued support
Sincerely,

Chris Dailey,
President, Shore Acres Civic Association

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reposted here by Snell Isle Civic Association and the Save Smacks Bayou Neighborhood Coalition