Letter to the Editor: Too many issues

Marco Island: Too many issues, too many words, not enough action and management.

Putt-Putt: Kramer acknowledges that he was well aware of the deed restrictions and requirements. He instead chose to bulldoze through willing planning, zoning and City Councils, and through the permits. Shut up, suck it up, admit you’re wrong, and do things the right way.

New community center: The citizens have responed ‘no’ in numerous surveys. Accept what we say. Forget the new center until we have the money and the public interest to move ahead.

Smokehouse Bat Bridge: Our City Council wasted over $2 million of our money already. Either repair the existing bridge for less than already thrown away, or table the issue for review in five years.

Marriott expansion: September 2001 Ordinance 01-14 expressly prohibits all buildings and elevated structures on that side. Just say ‘no.’ Have you seen what the resorts and hotels have done to Honolulu? Disgraceful. We want a nice quiet, small town atmosphere. Where is MICA in all this?

Bill Harris

Marco Island


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Comments » 3

Konfuzius writes:

"Where is MICA in all this?"

Closing eyes, signed everything and cashed their MICA tax.

Konfuzius says:

If it is all about money, the brain shut down.

MrBreeze writes:

Hascle, As a City Marco Island can fight any purposed development. If the Deltona Deed Restrictions do not allow the expansion then thats it over. What is there to be so scared about?

The documents speak the rules plain and simple.

ajm3s writes:

in response to Hascle:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

There is NOT enough money to defend an expansion if the folks (i.e. residents) who live in single family homes and condos do NOT want to increase intensity/density and the council (the final arbiter) to act accordingly.

The campaign the Marriott will present will be compelling from so many angles, including increase tax revenue from property value and sales/tourist tax to additional revenue to existing businesses that cater to the tourist trade. Also, consider the enhancement and upgrades of the property to add more capacity and luxury.

But what Mr. Medwedeff, Marriott manager, failed to express was the impact on quality for the typical resident, who simply lives here and goes to local shops to maintain their property and day to day enjoyment afforded by the climate.

For example, will the beach front be enhanced with more convention/visitors from the residents perspective? Will the additional sales tax generated by the Marriott lower your taxes specifically your sales tax rate, or lower the millage for your property?

The answer is a resounding NO. Why, because the increase growth will need more government services to support such a complex expansion vs that of say simply building a parking lot.

As a thought exercise, what would be the impact both revenue and cost for government services, if the property was primarily a parking area for the beach-goers (visitors) instead of a convention center with all the accoutrements i.e. top floor restaurant and pool.

Bear in mind, the most costly services, from an operational basis for government service are fire/rescue, police, water and wastewater......

How much would it cost to service a parking lot vs more rooms and commercial offerings?

Folks this island was designed as a re-creation of a small tropical town to attract both tourists and residents, with Hawaiian style buildings and open air venues. Only problem Hawaii is an archipelago of eight major islands that range in quality and ambiance from highly commercialized to quiet reserves.

Our problem: we have only one island, and cannot support more commercialization while attempting to preserve a small tropical town atmosphere.

What we have is a rush for expansion to generate more revenue. I ask more revenue for whom?

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