Key Club open space agreement amended

Longboat Key Town commissioners reached consensus at a five hour workshop Thursday to amend an Open Space agreement, which sets the stage to allow the Longboat Key Club to remove its driving range and build a conference center and parking garage in its place as part of its Islandside development proposal.

Islandside Property Owners Coalition Attorney Mike Furen said the Town has no legal authority to violate its own Town Code and cannot approve amending the uses allowed on the driving range parcel.

“We do not think you have lawful legal authority to do this,” said Furen,. “I am contesting because the predicate is a proposal that is not lawful under Town zoning and rules. This agreement served as the basis for the Longboat Key Club, golf course and its recreational facilities.”

Furen added, “It is our strong view that the Town Code does not allow the proposal that is the sole basis and reason to consider an amendment to this agreement.”

Town Attorney Dave Persson replied that that has been Furen’s argument from day-one, and it is relevant to the Outline Development Plan hearing, but not for the matter at hand.

Commissioner Gene Jaleski asked what happens if the Commission later finds that “It was not allowed to do this or does not have the right to do this.”

Persson said if you do not approve the overall application for the redevelopment, then the ordinance amendments fall away as if they were never written.

Mayor Lee Rothenberg said he wrote a memorandum earlier in the day stating that he opposes eliminating the driving range and that he believes it should be retained.

“I felt the question has to do with rights of residents and golfers vs. those who stay at hotel. All members I spoke with who are golfers spoke of the need for a driving range.”

Commissioner Hal Lenobel said,  “A driving range is certainly advisable and preferable. What you drew up eliminates that.”

Persson said the proposal eliminates the range and allows for a warm-up area.

Director of Key Club Golf Terry O’Hara said that the Club now has 13 stalls across its driving range currently at Islandside and people hit balls as a warm-up. He said what is proposed is a 12-stall hitting area where the ball goes 40 yards and hits net.

“It is enough space to see ball flight. Most golfers average score is around a 100. Our focus is more than ever on a short game area with the luxury of hitting full shots. About 67 percent of scores are chipping and bunker and putting shots. We are concentrating in that area,” said O’Hara.

Another option, said O’Hara, is players can drive up the street two miles to Harbourside where there will remain a recently expanded driving range.

Commissioner Jim Brown said that for him a driving range is important, but mainly to get muscles loose.

“From that respect,” said Brown, “a hitting enclosure might be adequate. I understand the logic of going to the other driving range; if we are going to approve a hotel, let’s not put so many restrictions on it that it will fail.”

Lenobel asked that if the applicant is adding 7.5 acres to the course, “Why not add a water driving range?”

O’Hara said the only spot they could do it is on 15th hole according to golf course designer Reese Jones. He continued.,“Most golfers slice the ball and it could be a safety issue. The average golfer hits five minutes to get muscles loose and then goes to the tee.”

Vice Mayor Siekmann asked if it was absolutely essential to remove the range.

Key Club General Manager Mike Welly said, “We ran out of space. It would be our preference to have it, but all the various components of the master plan were necessary and the least important thing was the driving range. When it comes down to playing 4.5 hours on a great golf course vs. 10 minutes on a driving range, it made sense.”

Lenobel asked Welly if the Commission votes to not approve removing the practice range, would he seek an alternative?

“No, we will all go home,” Welly replied.

Siekmann said the key thing is not the decision of eliminating the driving range, but adding the conference center and parking garage where one is not allowed today — to change the allowed uses. Persson said the current allowed uses are recreational only.

Brown said he is “willing to let them hang themselves out there and test the waters. I am against requiring that they keep a driving range.”

Commissioners reached consensus to move the revised Open Space agreement forward that allows removing the driving range and constructing the conference center for formal action at a special meeting to be held on Feb. 19. Persson made clear that everything discussed is contingent on new hotel being up and functioning.

Steve Reid

Editor/Publisher