Marathon Mayor Robyn Still joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s been going on in the city.
There was a city council meeting last night where the hotel/motel ordinance was discussed.
Still said, “People wanted to talk about it as it affects one particular development in town. Our ordinances aim city wide. But there were some people concerned about the golf course on Sombrero Boulevard. We allowed them to speak. The developer actually came and spoke as well. He assured our audience and council members and staff that he does plan to follow his development agreement, which is to also redevelop the 18 hole golf course. That was what the majority of citizens came to our workshop about two weeks ago to talk about in relationship to this ordinance. Last night, they were there to address the golf course. I think they had heard rumors that this developer or they had concerns that the developer wasn’t going to develop the golf course, that the developer was going to build on it, build structures instead of a golf course. But there is a current development agreement that is in place that says there will be an 18 hole golf course on that property. Any changes to that would have to be made through several meetings with city council and the public would be able to come out, would be able to again, express their feelings about it. City council would have to vote on it twice. After we voted on it, it would go to the state and if the citizens still didn’t like that, they have the option to appeal to the state as well. So right now, the development agreement is an 18 hole golf course. The developer, like I said, was present with a PowerPoint presentation, and told the audience that he plans to do that 18 hole golf course.”
How did the hotel ordinance come into play in this discussion?
Still said, “Under his development agreement, he has approval to build basically a hotel there, along with some villas. If somebody has the building rights to build a hotel, they, under this new ordinance can convert them to things such as villas, but they have to take a reduction in the size. So let’s say for example, I have allocations to build 100 rooms, well there’s a 80% reduction or there will be after the second hearing of this ordinance, if it passes, I will lose 20% of my size to build this other. So you get less rooms to build a little bigger. Our ordinance that we passed on the first hearing last night is going to restrict the size to just under 1500 square feet. So you’re going smaller.”
There will be a workshop on March 26 to discuss the non-profit grant program.
Still said, “We started that last year and that we are doing this year as well. We are inviting the applicants to come to this workshop. This gives them a chance to address city council, address the public on what their organization is, why they’re asked asking for a grant from the city, what they plan to do with that grant. It also gives us a chance as council members who are going to have to score their grant application to after we’ve looked at it, we can ask them questions. If we have questions about it. Sometimes you forget to put something in your application that you wish you’d later put in there, but the deadline has come and gone and you’ve submitted it. This gives them the chance for that. Sometimes, you’ll read the application and somebody who’s scoring it, and you’ll have questions, and you’re not able to ask them. Well, this gives us the chance to do that. Also, it lets the public see who these organizations are and it may help these organizations get more support in the community, outside of a grant from city council and from the city.”
After the lockdown of the Key West High School recently, it’s important to remember Marathon schools also have the same protection.
Still said, “I have experience in law enforcement, and I’ve worked with several different law enforcement agencies, but I have 100% confidence in our law enforcement here in Monroe County. They are top notch. Our school system, our school resource officers, I feel like our staff, our children are safe there. It’s just an unfortunate situation that our kids and our teachers and staff these days have to worry about these types of things. When I was growing up, that wasn’t a concern. But unfortunately, in today’s time, that is a concern. Our kids should be able to go to school and not have to worry about that. But I know that they’re safe. They’re in good hands. The sheriff’s office has excellent, excellent training, excellent leadership. I know that they’re as safe as they possibly can be at school, given this world. I mean, you can’t predict the actions of others. But I know that law enforcement and school staff are ready to respond to take care of themselves and our kids.”
The Marathon Seafood Festival was a great success.
Still said, “It was wonderful, great attendance, wonderful weather until what about four o’clock Sunday afternoon when we had some rain. But other than that, absolutely successful weekend, I believe. Congratulations to the Chamber here in Marathon, that entire staff, all of the volunteers, they made it wonderful. The Fishermen’s Association, amazing.”