PLANNING COMMISSION TURNS DOWN KEY LARGO 7-ELEVEN

PROPOSAL MET CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL, PER COUNTY STAFF

Plans for a 7-Eleven gas station at the current Anthony’s clothing store in Key Largo were shut down by the Monroe County Planning Commission at an April 28 meeting at the Murray Nelson Government Center.

Developers were seeking to construct a 4,730-square-foot gas station with 11 fueling stations and a 24/7 convenience store in the median at MM 98.2. It needed the planning commission’s approval for a major conditional use permit in order to proceed.

Concerns over traffic and public safety by the public and several commissioners, however, culminated in a 4-1 vote to deny the applicant’s request. Chairman Joe Scarpelli was the lone “yes” vote.

A proposed 7-Eleven at the current Anthony’s clothing store was turned down by the Monroe County Planning Commission. If approved, it would have sat next to a Marathon gas station at MM 98.2.

DAVID GROSS/Keys Weekly

store — a Marathon gas station with nine fuel stations sits next door. Green noted that zoning allows gas stations and that the project would be the “best looking thing up and the corridor.” He also said such a use doesn’t cause traffic accidents.

“Any successful business that’s a magnet will have those issues, but it’s not a gas station that will cause or create those issues,” Green said.

Joy Martin, resident of Rock Harbor for more than 30 years, said the 7-Eleven would create congestion and increase risks for pedestrians crossing the highway, like workers trying to catch the Miami-Dade bus.

On April 25, AJAX celebrated the “topping off” of the new Monroe County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Marathon. The topping off is the completion of the highest point of the building.

Monroe County Mayor Pro Tem Holly Merrill Raschein and commissioners David Rice, Michelle Lincoln and Jim Scholl toured the building with County Administrator Roman Gastesi, County Attorney Bob Shillinger and other key staff who will call the new EOC home. Once finished, the category 5-rated EOC will house Monroe County Emergency Management, Monroe County Fire Rescue administration, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office 9-11 call center. The EOC is expected to be completed in spring 2024.

Highlights of the building include:

- 28,321 square feet (including areas at bottom of elevator and stair towers)

- A design based on a 500-year storm.

- Designed for 220-mph wind.

- Impact rating: windborne debris missile criteria for hurricane shelter safe room (FEMA P-361)

- A first-floor elevation of 20.2 feet (17 feet above ground) due to wave action (above code BFE+3)

- Self-sustaining for 72 hours for up to 150 people, including food, drinking water, electric power and wastewater storage.

- Emergency communications via satellite phone and internet service.

A county staff report stated the application to develop the property into high-intensity commercial retail complied with criteria when examining the county’s land development code. Staff received written protest by more than 20% of surrounding property owners. As a result, the request for a major conditional use permit needed four commissioners voting in the affirmative. The vote wasn’t close to a supermajority — residents inside the Murray Nelson Government Center auditorium who were concerned with the proposal applauded the end result.

Residents said a 7-Eleven could mean more potential accidents on a portion of U.S. 1 that’s prone to bad crashes. Grand Street residents noted the difficulties crossing U.S. 1 to go south.

“If you allow this to go in, we’re going to have more deaths, said Chef Buck Donnelly, Grand Street resident. “We have 10 pounds of slurpees in a 5-pound bag that’s bursting at the seams.”

Jason Green, planner with Axis Infrastructure that designed the project, said the location is appropriate for a 7-Eleven gas station and convenience

“It’s just the nature of the beast with that type of development coupled with the fact it’s next to another gas station,” Martin said, referencing the Marathon gas station next to the proposed 7-Eleven.

Attorney Ty Harris, who represented the developers, noted county staff recommended approval of the major conditional use permit as the project met all the criteria.

“I’ve been in a position where staff has been where there’s so much pressure to recommend denial, yet we meet criteria and we were approved,” Harris said. “Without the criteria, what’s the point of going through the process?

Planning commissioner David Ritz said the 7-Eleven structures aren’t “Keysey in any way, shape or fashion” and didn’t believe it would fit Key Largo’s community character. Rosemary Thomas, planning commissioner for the Middle Keys, said she’s seen what the 7-Eleven did to her community.

“It’s been a disaster,” she said.

Scarpelli, chairman who supported the request, said the 7-Eleven parking lot wouldn’t be seen by surrounding neighborhoods due to the exceptional landscaping plan.

Keys Weekly

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald

The Scoreboard

Nevaeh Arnold

This Week In Keys Sports

Junior, Key West Softball

When Key West found itself behind late in its final regular season game, the unwavering fortitude of Nevaeh Arnold helped keep the Lady Conchs calm, knowing that they had the odds in their favor. When handed the ball this season, Arnold has delivered wins in eight out of nine games, and the April 28 matchup was one of them. Arnold was credited with the win, giving up just three hits with zero earned runs and adding four strikeouts to her season count of 40 so far. For her positive attitude, leadership skills and pitching prowess, Nevaeh Arnold is this week’s Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald