A proposed development expansion for a 16-unit build on 107th Street in Marathon took a beating from local leaders and residents alike at the Marathon City Council’s May 13 session.
In August 2023, with a 4-1 vote, the council approved an original plan of 16 homes behind a climate-controlled storage facility between 106th and 107th streets on the oceanside. Tuesday’s session heard a proposal to up that number to 24 six-bedroom homes – adding four already-approved units from a neighboring property purchased since the original agreement, plus another four homes.
The expansion, denied unanimously by the council, met a stiff rebuke from councilman Kenny Matlock, the lone “no” vote in 2023 who had already publicly stated his intent to oppose the expansion. Joining Matlock and taking the reins on Tuesday night was councilwoman Robyn Still, who quoted multiple sections of Marathon’s charter, comprehensive plan and land development regulations while decrying the expansion’s benefit to Marathon’s small-town atmosphere.
“Help me understand how this redevelopment enhances our community character in that particular neighborhood,” she said. “What about 184 parking spaces is small-town?”
Representing owners Charles and David LaClair with Marathon LLC, contractor Jim Saunders argued the development would be its own isolated community.
“It wasn’t that we don’t have what I would say is a dense project,” he said. “It’s just that we didn’t try to max it out any further.
“Small-town community, that’s going to be something you’ll have to comment on,” he added. “But we tried to make it code-compliant.”
“Code-compliant – but not more consistent with our community character,” Still responded.
“These homes are designed to go towards short-term rentals,” Matlock said. “The potential here is 336 new occupants every seven days. … It says that this won’t affect the welfare of the neighboring areas, and that’s just nonsense.”
Public commenters lambasted alleged safety issues already occurring on the construction site, as well as traffic, parking and infrastructure concerns.
“I’ve worked for the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority for 20 years. I know firsthand the strain our infrastructure is under, and I can tell you it’s not built for this kind of unchecked development,” said 105th Street resident Megan Hughes. “We’re not just losing housing – we’re losing neighbors and volunteers in the heart of our community. What kind of future are we leaving for our kids if they’re not born into millionaire families?”
Skate park gets green light
A long-awaited skate and wheel park at the east end of Marathon Community Park got its most significant green light so far via unanimous approval of a $1.5 million design build contract with Platform Group LLC.
Marathon has committed funds in two consecutive budgets for the project, which will come at a projected cost of $1,265,800 to the city. While the anticipated total cost is $1,531,040, the gap will be bridged with funding from the nonprofit Florida Keys Community Center headed by Matt Sexton, which has pledged to fund the $265,240 difference along with any additional costs. A splash pad will also be eventually constructed next to the skate park, and site work to build the park will prepare the area for the splash pad, city staff reports stated.
Approval of the build was met with applause around the room, along with special praise by the council for Sexton, a local resort owner, action sports enthusiast and longtime champion for the project.
“My sole goal has been to bring more fun things to this town, give this place a good sense of community, and create more things for kids to do,” Sexton told the council. “I think (this project) has become exactly what I hoped it would – a reimagining of what our community park could be, bringing in the wants and needs of everybody.”
Safety action plan zeroes in on traffic fatalities
Resident input in future surveys and workshops will pair with crash data to create an action plan to reduce traffic fatalities throughout Marathon, deputy project manager Kush Bhagat of consulting firm Stantec told the council on Tuesday.
Bhagat’s presentation summarized six years of crash data in Marathon, in which 1,598 total crashes resulted in 88 fatalities or serious injuries and caused an estimated $233 million in societal costs, he said. Peak crash frequencies tended to correlate with busy tourist months, and generally occurred around noon, 2 and 3 p.m. in the areas of 33rd to 73rd Street, the Sadowski Causeway intersection and the Coco Plum Drive intersection.
Bhagat showed a video clip series of near-miss crashes in collision hotspots, used to identify crash patterns and problematic traffic patterns among cars, pedestrians, bicycles and scooters.
“The end result is going to be a document that has outlined policy steps for the city, as well as identified projects in locations with recommended improvements,” he said. “It’s going to be data-driven, but it’s also from a lot of engagement. … We want to hear from you.”
Traffic concerns will be on the agenda at Marathon’s May 27 workshop, and residents are encouraged to take an online survey by scanning the attached QR code.
QR LINK: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/marathonss4a
In other news:
- Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Captain Derek Paul announced a return of $122,978 in unused funds from MCSO to the city from the sheriff’s office annual contract.
- Fire Chief James Muro announced the selection of an upcoming fire and EMS rescue boat to operate out of Marathon. The total purchase price of $476,557.07 through manufacturer Safe Boat is funded in part by a $150,000 grant from the state, budgeted funds previously set aside by the city, and an additional $101,557 in city expenses approved unanimously in Resolution 2025-46. The 29-foot center console vessel will eventually be docked at Marathon’s Seven Mile Marina once completed, allowing easy access to both gulfside and oceanside emergencies.
