Colony submits 36-month time-line
MELISSA REID
Associate Publisher
mreid@lbknews.com
The Colony Association is requesting double the amount of time originally requested for completing renovation of the Colony from an 18-month extension, to a 36-month extension beyond the Dec. 31, 2012 deadline.
The Colony extension request will be held at a quasi-judicial hearing before the town commission at 9 a.m. on Sept. 24. This week, in a letter dated Sept. 19, Association attorney Donald Hemke sent the town a letter giving a newly proposed timeline for development plans for the new Colony. The completion date for the new Colony would be on or before Dec. 31, 2015 according to the timeline.
“Given the above timeline (see timeline below), and in light of the Town Commission’s meeting of September 4, 2012, the Association would request a 36-month extension of the ‘deadline’ of December 31, 2012, to December 31, 2015,” wrote Hemke.
At Monday’s Sept. 24 workshop, town commissioners will determine whether to extend the Dec. 31, 2012 abandonment period of the Colony. If the commission does not extend the Dec. 31 deadline, the Colony will revert back to its former zoning of 6 units per acre, thereby losing its current 237 grandfathered units, and instead allowed to have approximately 90 – 100 units.
At the Sept. 4 regular commission meeting, Town Planning and Zoning Director Robin Meyer suggested that if the commission extends the grandfathering of the units, it should impose conditions to reduce the rat and pest population and to ensure that landscaping is maintained. Neighboring condominium owners such as those at the Aquarius, have also expressed health concerns associated with the abandoned property, as rats and mice have been spotted inhabiting the structures. Aquarius owners also proposed their own milestones and guidelines for the Colony.
Meyer added that his concern if the application is denied, is that it could create additional legal challenges and issues. This issue is of concern, he said, as one of the Colony’s problems in finalizing a development plan is its inability to settle its ongoing lawsuits.
As made public this week, an engineering company hired by Citizens Property Insurance has deemed the five-story central tower unsafe for anyone to enter, as one of the central beams on the fifth floor is corroded and falling downward (see related story this issue).
Colony Association President Jay Yablon has assured the town and neighboring Aquarius residents that the is willing to work with them on all of the problems associated with the Colony’s abandoned state, including vermin and decaying buildings. Yablon also stated that the Association is working with the town to resolve the five-story tower structural issue, as well as any structural problems in the surrounding buildings.
Colony Association’s proposed timeline:
Development timeline/milestones
1. No later than Oct. 15, the Association’s developer will meet with the association and initiate efforts to confirm that the proposed restoration or redevelopment can comply with the state, Town and FEMA requirements. By Dec. 1, 2012 the Association will have determined whether the proposed restoration or redevelopment can comply with state, Town and FEMA requirements.
2. No later than December 1, 2012 the Association or its developer will execute a definitive agreement with its developer and its resort manager.
3. No later than December 1, 2012 the Association or its developer will inspect and evaluate physical conditions at the Colony in connection in deciding whether to renovate or redevelop.
4. No later than January 1, 2013, the Association will brief its members concerning whether to restore or redevelop and informally poll the members concerning whether to restore or redevelop.
5. No later than February 1, 2013, the Association or its developer will engage a civil engineer to begin infrastructure design for the restoration or redevelopment.
6. No later than February 1, 2013, the Association or its developer will engage an architect to prepare schematic and working drawings for the restoration or redevelopment.
7. No later than June 1, 2013, the Association will apply for approvals and/or permits for the restoration or development from the town.
8. No later than December 1, 2013, the Association or its developer will solicit bids from contractors to restore or redevelop.
9. No later than February 1, 2014, the Association will obtain a formal legally-binding vote from its members to proceed to restore or redevelop.
10. No later than May 1, 2014, the Association or its developer will begin construction of the restoration or redevelopment.
11. No later than December 31, 2015, construction of the restoration or redevelopment will be complete.
To my knowledge, the Colony Association is now trumpeting its third plan in the last 7 months. How can anyone seriously believe this group is capable of delivering a quality development within a specific timeframe? Additionally if I read the proposed timeline correctly, the real “go / no go” decision could be pushed out as long as 17 months from now to February 2014 when the membership vote is secured (or not). Why?
If the Commission is compelled to provide an extension, I certainly hope they do so only after instituting perfomance conditions that are measurable and tied to a tangible penalty mechanism if such conditions are not met.
For 20 years the owners did no work to maintain or upgrade the units. Now they cry about losing their investment, but where was the pride of ownership for all those years. Also, the original business plan was totally flawed. Why should the town buy into the fantasy? These people have demonstrated they have no money for upkeep, only for lawyers. The Colony needs to be torn down and rebuilt as a 5 star tennis resort. The “owners” should each get a share of the net profits generated by the new ” Colony” but have no “time share’ or “usage” or “ownership” rights. Let someone who knows what they are doing save this.
Neither the Town nor our neighbors have the right to tell homeowners what to do with our property.
We appreciate everyone’s suggestions, but in the end we have to decide how to fix what’s broken and open up and use what is perfect fine and safe.
My unit at the Colony is in better shape than it has ever been, and yet I have been effectively locked out without any judicial proceedings. I continue to pay taxes and association fees but can’t get in.
If the Town would turn on the water, all the owners could go back in and fix their units and you would see a new Colony spring up instantly.
I agree, this property should be torn down and sold to a developer-hotel operator.. Klauber is about to receive a judgement of between 7.5 to 25 Million. The Condo Owners do not have this kind of money to pay off the judgement which will result in Klauber and the other lien holder’s foreclosing on the Condo Association which will ultimately result in personal judgement’s againt those people who do not own their unit in a LLC, Corporation, or other shield from personal liability.
My heart goes out to to Mr. Fleetwood who wants to get back into his Condo which he personally can only occupy 30 days per year according to present zoning along with the other 236 owners.Water and sewer bills in an amount of $200,000 plus is owed here which the Association of Condo owner’s refuses to pay as they Claim it is Klauber’s responsibility. Before the Town Commissioner’s allow any further extension of grandfathering one of the conditions should be payment of what is owed to the Town of Longboat Key.
What a travesty! Such a big part of this area and Thousands of family memories down the drain….only to be kicked around by well-intended amateurs. Just sell to a large entity who will return a high end beach/tennis facility……bringing countless people to dine/spend in our areas!
I’ve came up with a great idea for the Colony…make it a first class beach and tennis resort. One with a low profile to the sand so that all the units are easily assessible. Have cute little cottages with small but fully equipped kitchens and whirlpool baths. Make it unpretentious – but classy. Make it casually elegant. Make it so peaceful and civilized that it becomes a popular desitnation for athletes, celebrities, politicians and people from around the world who just want to get away from the stresses of life. Have an award winning restuarant with a tremendous wine selection and an million dollar ocean view. Have a casual, fun outdoor bar and restuarant on the beach. A pool that directly overlooks the ocean. A relaxing spa and lots of well maintained tennis courts with well qualified tennis pros on-site. Have it capable of hosting and catering first-class weddings and events directly on the beach. Have it managed by a seasoned management team with a decades long track record of successfully building and managing a resort with all of the above qualities. Wait a mintue…this is all starting to sound like I’ve seen it before somewhere…
And one more thing…if they could manage to make it old-Florida romantic while maintaining a family friendly atmosphere. Well, I guess I’m just dreaming…
Without adequate investment the Colony will go nowhere. Why not bring in marketing people from the Ritz abd Four Seasons chains to see what they think will work at the Colony?
Perhaps all the owners can trade their currently worthless ownerships for shares in a new upscale resort hotel that will attract the modern vacationer.
No investors equals no progress. Everyone needs to get on board with the realities of a piece of land with a bunch of condemned wooden bungalows. Wooden bungalows are no longer as popular as they were in the 50′s.
It’s all about the cycle of life; the ebb and flow of the tide.
Why not to remodeled the condo and the towers.hire a construction company.hire termite company to get rid of rats and mice.hire lanscape company to fix whole area.remodeled the rest. and pool.hire a very good clay ct. maint. people.U know u can save alots of money by doing this.and the colony will be on it feets.now does that sound like a winner for longboat key residents.