Commission Denys Bulkhead and Splits on Ordianace 405

The August 1 Cedar Key Commission meeting was well attended by a delegation from Cedar Key School, citizens interested in the City's purchase of the Lions Club building and petitioners concerned about passage of Ordinance 405. (See related article; "Students Visit Commission.")

The final stages of purchase of the Lions Clubhouse with CRA funds for use as a Community/Health Center temporarily ran aground on who would pay the closing costs. The purchase price, according to CRA Director Jackie Gorman, is $950,000. That price was arrived at based on appraisals by both the seller and the buyer and several months of negotiation.

The Commission considered a Final Order to approve repair to a bulkhead on a property owned by John and Connie Wonsik, but found that the construction plans extended beyond the Wonsiks' property line. The Commission voted four to zero, with Commissioner Pat O'Neal absent, to deny approval. That gives the Wonsiks the opportunity to submit another request, with waiver of another application fee.

Ordinance 405 was the dominant agenda item. It is the product of the "Moratorium Committee" which was reviewed by the Local Planning Agency and passed by the Commission on First Reading. Ordinance 405 is a complex effort to limit the scale and height of new buildings, to consider the costs of reconstruction versus demolition of historic buildings and control of relocation of historic buildings.

A petition singned by thirty citizens in opposition to Ordinance 405 as written caused a discussion that lasted more than ninety minutes. Bob Edson, the leader of the petitioners, many of whom live on Sixth Street, identified parts of the ordinance that he approves of, but repeated his concern about a list of historic sites. The discussion centered on amending the ordinance in the future versus subdividing the ordinance into three or four simpler ordinances.

On a split vote, with Commissioners Vanessa Edmunds and Sue Colson in favor and Commissioners Heath Davis and Paul Oliver in opposition, the ordinance did not pass. City Attorney David Coffey was directed to redraft the ordinance. With Commissioner Pat O'Neal present at the next meeting the deadlock may be resolved.

At 9:15 PM the Commission began consideration of Ordinances 406, 407, 408 and 410. All were passed unanimously without discussion in less than eight minutes. The ordinances provide for creation of a "downtown commercial district" a "commercial corridor" with special architectural characteristics and provision for quasi-judicial hearing notices.