Several restrictions placed on a brewpub, restaurant and distillery on Plantation Key were removed by the Islamorada Village Council via 4-1 vote at a Sept. 11 meeting inside the Founders Park Community Center.
In 2022, a newly-seated Islamorada Village Council considered a major conditional use request with six variances for the project to redevelop the former BB&T bank building into Crooked Palm Cabana. Following five hours of discussions, the dais voted 3-2 to clear the way for development of the building’s first floor and outdoor area. The second floor contains deed-restricted affordable housing units.
The council’s approval, however, came with 19 special conditions which were agreed upon between Crooked Palm Cabana ownership and the village to address some concerns raised by neighbors.
Providing craft cocktails, tasty libations and a family-friendly atmosphere, Crooked Palm Cabana opened to the public in spring 2024. Co-founder and partner Chris Trentine said they’ve shown good faith over the past year-and-a-half. He requested the council give him the ability to operate his business similar to others in the village.
“The whole reason we built the place was because of the way the comprehensive plan suggested they wanted establishments like the one we built,” Trentine said.
Village planning staff recommended the council approve the request to remove six specific conditions. Some of the more burdensome restrictions included limiting operation hours Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Fridays, Saturdays and holidays from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.; limited outdoor seating Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and limiting amplified music to 8 p.m. during the week and 9 p.m. on weekends.
A report by staff stated the proposal to remove the conditions complied with code and was consistent with the goals, objectives and policies of the comprehensive plan.
Before the approval, several residents took to the microphone to give their input. Plantation Key resident Diane Wischmeier requested the council seek compromise between the business and concerned residents over hours of operation and outdoor music on weeknights and weekends. Timothy Morely said he lives directly across from the business.
“It will clearly affect me a lot,” said Morely. “The leniency awarded to this applicant is a lot.”
Councilwoman Anna Richards was one of the four who supported removing the conditions from Crooked Palm Cabana. A frequent visitor to the business, she said she’s seen people walk out because they couldn’t sit outside past 9 p.m. She also said the music can hardly be heard outside the establishment, especially with the activity going on at the neighboring 7-Eleven gas station.
Vice Mayor Don Horton also voted in favor of uplifting the restrictions. He said he never understood all the restrictions put on the business in the first place.
“I understood it was based on negotiations, but not the code,” he said.
Councilman Steve Friedman said he admired the way in which the business worked with the neighborhood. He had concerns over lifting the restrictions and future possibilities of the business changing owners. Friedman was the lone “no” vote.
“If you decide to sell or your partners sell, then the next owner might not be as generous a neighbor as you have been,” he said. “I also believe an agreement’s an agreement. I don’t think you were really forced into anything to do this.”
Mayor Sharon Mahoney served on the council that originally approved the conditions as part of the major conditional use permit in 2022.
“The conditions were us trying to find a middle of the road to appease neighbors and to get your guys going. Are some of them ridiculous? Yes, some of them are really ridiculous,” Mahoney said.
