city of marathon florida

CITY OF M
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FLORIDA
9805 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050
Phone: (305) 743·4111 Fax: (305) 743·3667
www.ci.marathon.fl.us
MEMORANDUM
Planning Department
MEETING DATE:
June 11 ,2013
TO:
Mayor Cinque and City Councilmembers
FROM:
George Garrett, Planning Director
THROUGH:
Roger T. Hemstadt, City Manager
SUBJECT:
Planning Department Update
The Planning Department has been requested to provide an update on projects that it is involved in that are
unrelated to the Department's typical role in bringing Ordinances, Conditional Use reviews, and BPAS
resolutions before Council.
Progress - Hotel Development
The City Council gave final approvals to four projects involving the redevelopment or expansion of projects
involving transient residential units (TRUs - hotel rooms). The projects were Bonefish Bay Motel (25 units),
Faro Blanco 125 units), Marriott Residence Inn (95 units), and Tranquility Bay (103 units). Each project was
awarded a number ofTRUs from the City based on its Conditional Use approvals and the constraints set forth in
the City's TRU Ordinance. The total award from the City for all projects was 65 TRUs.
Bonefish Bay Motel - Status Quo - Sewer improvements under construction
Faro Blanco has submitted a full set of construction plans, with all necessary revisions based of staff comments.
The demolition permit for all remaining buildings was picked up on June 7, 2013.
The Marriott has submitted a complete set of building plans for the hotel and entry commercial space that
respond to all staff comments. Therefore, the project is ready for permitting. They have not submitted detailed
plans for the proposed restaurant. They have obtained and have begun the site preparation work including the
addition and compaction of approximately another foot to foot and a half of fill.
Tranquility Bay - Status quo. Under construction.
Lime Lane
The Sue Moore houses have been relocated to Lime Lane as many have noted. They will be preserved in
perpetuity at that site. The project involved the removal of a large amount of invasive exotic vegetation at
current location of the two buildings. It also required the transplantation of approximately 74 Keys Thatch
CITY OF MARATHON FLORIDA
9805 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050
Phone: (305) 743-4111 Fax: (305) 743-3667
www.ci.marathon.fl.us
Palms which has been done quite successfully by OotPalm. Several Thatch Palms have not survived well and
will be replaced at three to one before a Certificate of Occupancy (C.O.) is issued.
Some native trees have been planted as mitigation for the native trees removed during the placement of the Sue
Moore houses. More trees will be planted after underground electric, water, and sewer are installed.
A request has been made of the contractor to better secure the site to avoid potential site safety concerns.
Hewlett Conditional Use
The Hewlett Conditional Use for the storage of small amounts of landscape rock and associated vehicles was
approved by the City Council late last Fall.
Hewlett has met most of the Conditions of his Conditional Use approval. Notably, he has planted required
vegetative buffers on three sides. He has partially planted the U.S. I side pending an approval by FOOT which
would allow him to place remaining landscape material outside his fence on U.S. I Right-Of-Way. Staff has
contacted Mr. Hewlett requesting that he contact FOOT for a final determination and permit OR within the next
two weeks that he plant required material inside his fence. He has agreed with this request.
Boot Key
The majority of Boot Key properties and the largest portion of its land area remains under litigation. However,
there has been some discussion at the State level, through our recent trips to Tallahassee about the possible State
funds to assist in the willing seller purchase of the property should that become possible. The NOAA CELCP
grant is still in play until September.
Staff has contacted the Land Authority and has discussed proceeding with appraisal updates so that we may
present necessary information to the Land Authority in support of a request for matching funds for the CELCP
grant.
1st Time Homebuyers
The First Time Home Buyers Assistance Program was advertised on June 5, 2013 indicating that applications
for the grant are now available through the City. Grant Applications are due for those submitting on July 31,
2013 with subsequent vetting and ultimate presentation for award before the Council.
Landscape Ordinance Revisions
Liz Newland was engaged by the City to assist in developing some graphics that represent the written
constraints and requirements for standard landscape buffering within the City. As a matter of policy, these
graphics will become available immediately to applicants for development who will be required to provide
landscape buffers on their property (see attached sample - Figure I). Staff is incorporating Ms Newland's
CITY OF MARATHON FLORIDA
9805 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050
Phone: (305) 743-4111 Fax: (305) 743-3667
www.ci.marathon.fl.us
recommendation into a landscape ordinance revision. The modified ordinance will be presented to the Planning
Commission for consideration in July.
Mangrove Trimming
We are actively pursuing application approval to allow the City to be the recipient of a general mangrove
trimming permit for canals in the City overgrown with mangroves.
Status Quo
Animal Encounters of the Florida Keys
Long awaited constructed of the Animal Encounters project is under way. Ancillary issues concerning sewer
access to Seawatch and the placement of fire hydrants have been resolved.
Office Depot
Office Depot is moving fi'om its present location to the commercial plaza near the main Post Office. Interior
demolition of the lease area is presently occurring. Discussion is underway to attempt to improve traffic
circulation between all components of the commercial area between Walgreen's and The Cracked Conch.
Office Depot Replacement
Discussions are under way for the replacement of the Office Depot at 1191h Street with an alternate retail venue.
Aviation Blvd Curve / Bike Path
Staff has reviewed a number of options for the realignment of the road and bike path at the "curve" of Aviation
Blvd. Though environmental mitigation would be required, it appears that the simpler and easier project to
accomplish is to modify the alignment of the bike path toward the inside of the curve. Carlos Solis has
developed a conceptual re-alignment which we believe accomplishes the goal of make that section of road safer
for motorists and bicyclist as well as pedestrians. (See Figure 2) Concurrence of the airport management is in
progress.
CITY OF MARATHON. FLORIDA
9805 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050
Phone: (305) 743-4111 Fax: (305) 743-3667
www.ci.marathon.fl.us
Figure I
Typical Sample Landscape Cross-Section
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CITY OF MARATHON. FLORIDA
9805 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida 33050
Phone: (305) 743-4111 Fax: (305) 743-3667
www.ci.marathon.fl.us
Figure 2
Conceptual Re-alignment of Bike path at Aviation "Curve"