PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS DENIAL OF CODE CHANGE FOR LARGE GROCERY STORE & WORKFORCE HOUSING IN TAVERNIER

Final Decision Goes To Board Of County Commissioners

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Aproposal that would allow up to 70,000 square feet of nonresidential development for property in Tavernier — ultimately paving the way for a 64,000-square-foot supermarket and liquor store and some 86 workforce housing units — was recommended for denial by the Monroe County Planning Commission at a special April 28 meeting.

The five-person board makes recommendations to the board of county commissioners (BOCC) as it relates to land development code changes. Roughly two-and-a-half hours of presentations, comments and rebuttals inside the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo led the planning commission to a 3-2 vote to deny the request that came from the applicants represented by Smith/Hawks PL.

Now, the BOCC will take that recommendation and mull whether the amendment should be approved.

Planning commission member Rosemary Thomas made the motion, which was supported by Ron Demes, vice chair, and Joe Scarpelli, chairman. Planning commission members George Neugent and David Ritz were against the motion. Denial of the request by the planning commission came after county staff recommended denial of the proposal, noting that it was inconsistent with the community character and could adversely change the historic Tavernier community.

Current county land development code permits up to 10,000 square feet of nonresidential floor per structure for property located at MM 92 in Tavernier. Developers are seeking to change that to create a Tavernier Key Overlay District to develop what would be the largest Publix in the Upper Keys and housing for the workforce. Bart Smith, who represented the developers, told the planning commission that the property’s suburban commercial zoning already allows for such uses as commercial retail, offices and restaurants.

Smith also acknowledged that concessions made by the applicant would limit the 20-acre, 600,000 square-foot property, which has potential for 152,000 square feet of nonresidential development and 216 workforce housing units, to 64,000 square feet for a Publix supermarket and liquor store and 86 workforce housing units.

“They (the developers) are dedicated to building those units,” Smith said, adding that they would look to get some workforce housing units through an agreement with Islamorada.

Richard Barreto, Tavernier resi-

dent and member of the Tavernier Community Association, said many public comments were gathered and heard at previous community meetings and a county Development Review Committee. He said only one individual supported the commercial aspect of the development.

“That’s telling,” Barreto said. “This applicant will have you believe it will bring service to a limited area. They were telling us, ‘You really need this.’ People who live and work here have a different tune.”

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