VILLAGE WORKSHOP ALLOWS AMPLE PUBLIC COMMENT ON CODE CHANGES COUNCIL TO CONSIDER NEW PLAYGROUND AT LIBRARY BEACH PARK

JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

Islamorada residents can voice their opinions on several proposed changes to the village’s planning code during a May 4 workshop at Founders Park Community Center.

A special meeting to discuss 11 code changes brought forth by Dan Gulizio, village director of planning and development, was put on hold by the dais last month after council members learned that the public wouldn’t have three minutes to voice their comments on each proposal. Vice Mayor Sharon Mahoney called for another workshop to give residents affected by the changes time to have a say and ask questions.

In addition to the workshop, residents will have an opportunity to speak on the proposals once they reach the dais for a first and second reading at future meetings. Village Manager Ted Yates told council members at the April 11 workshop that some of the proposals were publicly introduced multiple times at the village’s Local Planning Agency meeting, which provides recommendations to the council on planning matters.

Changes to the village’s planning code, which deal with food trucks, alcohol permits and variances to name a few, came to the council after a presentation by Gulizio last August that highlighted inconsistencies and gaps in current regulations. Gulizio told the dais the initial changes coming before the council for approval would be “housekeeping” items.

At an April 13 meeting, the dais agreed to move several less controversial code fixes ahead to a first reading at a future meeting. No vote is expected on the proposed code changes at the May 4 regular meeting, which follows the workshop at 5:30 p.m. at Founders Park Community Center.

During the meeting, council members will consider approval of a project