HIALEAH MAN DIES AFTER BOAT HITS CHANNEL MARKER

Developers are seeking to turn the Anthony’s clothing store in Key Largo into a 7-Eleven gas station and convenience store. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Aproject to transform a Key Largo clothing store into a gas station and convenience store largely meets Monroe County development code, according to county staff at a Jan. 24 meeting of the Development Review Committee.

Twelve county staff members who make up the DRC voiced no major issues with an application for a major conditional use permit at the current Anthony’s clothing store at MM 98.2. The DRC makes recommendations to the Monroe County Planning Commission, where four of the five members must vote “yes” to approve the major conditional use request.

In order for the project to proceed, a variance request by the applicant to adjust a curb cut requirement would need the planning commission’s approval. Approval of the variance would reduce the required separation between curb cuts. Current code provides for 245 feet of separation between curbs. A meeting to take up the major conditional use request hasn’t been scheduled just yet, as the applicant’s variance request went before the planning commission on Jan. 25.

Owners Daniel Barry Jr. and Archer Barry filed an application in February 2022 to turn the clothing store into a 7-Eleven gas station with 11 fueling stations and a 24/7 convenience store. No specific turn lanes are provided entering the property from U.S. 1. The site currently has four curb cuts that allow motorists on U.S. 1 to enter and exit. That would change with the 7-Eleven project to enter-only and exit-only driveways for each direction of U.S. 1.

During recent community meetings, local residents living near the proposed project shared concerns over more traffic and fears of accidents. The developer’s agent, Jason Green of Axis Infrastructure, said the project doesn’t create more traffic in comparison to destinations like a clothing store. Green said the gas station and convenience store only capture vehicles driving in and out of the Keys.

Patricia McGrath told the DRC that the area doesn’t need any more high-intensity uses such as gas stations.

“The Monroe County Planning Department, I believe, should be in the business of protecting its citizens from developments like these,” she said.

Dottie Moses, president of the Key Largo Federation of Homeowners, said the project is a “very large traffic concern,” especially with no deceleration lanes proposed.

“We can’t understand why they’d move forward with a highintensity use that exacerbates issues on the highway,” Moses said.

AHialeah man died after his boat hit a channel marker near Tavernier Key. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation officers were sent to a single-boat accident on the bayside of Tavernier Key around 8 p.m. on Jan. 21. According to FWC, the 26-foot Contender had five occupants onboard, including the operator, identified as Freddy Diaz.

The boat struck the channel marker and Diaz was thrown upon impact. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.

“Our sympathies are with the victim's family and friends during this difficult time,” Arielle Callender, FWC spokeswoman, said.

FWC said an investigation is ongoing. The other occupants on board live in Miami and Hollywood. Their status was unknown at the time of the report. The Keys Weekly reached out to FWC’s office in Tallahassee for further information and is waiting for a reply.

The crash is the second fatal boating accident in the Upper Keys since the start of the year. The first occurred Jan. 2 when a 25-foot Skeeter collided with a jet ski. The man operating the jet ski, Anthony Abate, of Hialeah Gardens, died from his injuries. Occupants in the Skeeter were uninjured.

— Keys Weekly staff report