An Aug. 25 meeting of the Islamorada Village Council will see the dais mulling a change to the vessel exclusion/swim zone off Port Antigua and White Marlin beaches to include a 350-foot wide section of White Marlin Beach that wasn’t previously included.
The village council adopted an ordinance on Aug. 12, 2020 that set a vessel exclusion zone extending about 300 feet waterward from the mean high-water line off the shoreline adjacent to Port Antigua and White Marlin Beach. Buoys delineating the swim area were installed in May 2021.
An area of shoreline that wasn’t in the vessel exclusion/swim area sought to allow boat access for property owners with docks in the swim area. Per staff communication to the council, one of the consequences of creating the vessel exclusion zone was the concentration of recreational party boats in the area that wasn’t included. As a result, many boats were hanging close to shore.
In recent months, the village received requests from owners of the properties located in the area that wasn’t excluding vessels to be part of the vessel exclusion/swim area. Village staff said they heard from all four property owners living adjacent to the vessel exclusion zone. They acknowledged that they would like the waters behind their home to be included in the swim area.
The zone is enforced by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Fines of up to $250 can be handed to violators who anchor inside the vessel exclusion zone.
In other matters, the dais will consider the second reading of an ordinance that requires landlords to provide 60 days’ written notice if they raise the rent on their monthly tenants by more than 5%. In June, the dais directed the village’s attorney firm to draft an ordinance that mirrors Miami-Dade County’s new law requiring landlords to give advance notice. For month-to-month tenants, landlords must give 60 days’ written notice. As of now, landlords need to give 15 days notice to a tenant paying month to month.
Councilman Mark Gregg brought forth the proposal. He said there are limited opportunities for people to find a new place to live on such short notice. The dais unanimously passed the first reading of the ordinance at the Aug. 4 meeting.
A request by CBT Construction for major conditional use approval to allow for redevelopment of property at 90184 Overseas Highway into a brewery, distillery and tasting room will go before the council. The site is about 0.77 acres and currently consists of the former BB & T Bank on the first floor and seven deed-restricted affordable housing units on the second floor.
Review by village staff found the request for major conditional use and variance approval is in compliance with goals, objectives and policies of the comprehensive plan. But 16 conditions accompany staff’s recommended approval. Outdoor seating would be limited to a maximum of 32 seats. Hours of operation would go from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Saturday and holidays.
On April 21, the village council approved an alcohol permit for Crooked Palm Distillery via a 4-1 vote. Before the dais took action, residents raised issues with the distillery’s proximity to their homes. Larisa Baste, manager of Islamorada Brewery & Distillery at MM 82 in Islamorada, said they’re looking to provide a place where families can come and hang out.
Immanuel Lutheran Church, located across the way from the distillery, wrote a letter stating that it wouldn’t contest the alcohol permit after Chris Trentine, co-owner of Islamorada Brewery & Distillery, met with them.
“We appreciate his ‘good neighbor attitude’ in requesting a meeting with our council to address any concerns our congregation may have with his proposal and potential liquor license,” the letter reads.
Council members will also consider the final annual rate for solid waste service beginning Oct. 1, 2022 and ending Sept. 30, 2023. The assessment rate would be $530 per residential dwelling unit for the year. The rate represents a 16% increase from the prior year. The assessment roll is estimated to include 4,385 dwelling units within the village. A resolution to approve six market rate residential building permit allocations for quarter two of 2022 will also be considered.
The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at Founders Park Community Center. Visit islamorada.fl.us to see the full agenda.
