KEY WEST — The city's Historic Architectural Review
Commission on Friday set a special meeting for this week
to discuss possible changes to its design guidelines
that govern construction and renovations in the city's
historic district.
The two-hour meeting will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday in
Old City Hall, 510 Greene St.
Board members Don Craig, Marilyn Wild and Terry
Garcia on Friday asked Chairman George Born to set the
meeting. Craig said its purpose is not to target the
contentious 2.5-story height restriction that stymied
the Watermark luxury condominium project.
"What we're talking about is changes to the design
guidelines that cover a number of different issues,"
Craig said. "That includes terms of and the selection of
members, length of effectiveness of HARC approvals,
definition of a "story," plus clarification of other
terms in the guidelines, and anything else that comes
up."
News of the meeting had several Key West residents
concerned, including City Commissioner Bill Verge, whose
district includes part of the historic district and the
Watermark project. He said it's obvious the meeting is
an attempt to overturn the judge's ruling that blocked
the Watermark project because its height would have
exceeded 2.5 stories.
"They're trying to overturn Judge Payne's ruling and
the Third District Court of Appeal's ruling, which is
the whole basis for the Watermark decision," Verge said.
"If you can't win in the judiciary, you try to win it
through legislation."
The hotly debated Watermark luxury condominium
project called into question the board's rule
prohibiting buildings taller than 2.5 stories in the
historic district. Neighbor groups opposed the project
because it violated the board's guidelines. The board
and the City Commission approved the project because it
was in keeping with the city's rules, which allow
buildings to be 35 feet high plus 5 feet for a pitched
roof.
Judge Richard Payne overturned the city's approval of
Watermark and a state appeals court refused to hear
Watermark's appeal.
In January, City Attorney Bob Tischenkel asked Born
to delay further discussion of the issue until the furor
had died down.
"He's not allowed to do that," Craig said.
City code allows the board to recommend changes to
its guidelines each year, and to call a meeting to do
so, Craig said.
