In the first hearing of what could prove to be a contentious petition, the Marco Island Yacht Club will bring a request before the city Planning Board Friday asking for a variance of a rule that prohibits docks from extending more than 20 feet into the waterway.
Rudi Landwaard, vice chair of the Marco Island Yacht Club board of directors, said the plan calls for 40 new boat slips in two docks. The Marco Island Marina Association is part of the venture, with plans to own 10 of the 40 slips, Landwaard said.
Landwaard is also the chair of the ad-hoc committee assembled by the yacht club to form the dock plans.
According to the petition, one dock would be 402 feet long and the other 333 feet, well beyond the 20-foot protrusion allowed by city ordinance. Both are planned for construction at the club’s location at 1400 North Collier Boulevard.
The yacht club currently has eight slips extending into the waterway, but individual owners hold all of them. Landwaard said the club wants to add its own facilities to lease to other boat owners.
“I feel it’s important to provide dock facility, especially in today’s environment of anchoring out that we have here on the island,” Landwaard said.
The club and the marina have contracted Turrell, Hall & Associates to design the new facilities, which Landwaard said have actually been about four years in the planning. The firm is one that specializes in environmentally friendly designs, including projects for marinas that are meant to minimize impact.
Landwaard said he thinks the design will be a favorable one given its design and placement.
“It’s basically non-navigable waters,” he said. “We wouldn’t be obstructing any waterways.”
Nancy Richie, the Marco Island’s environmental specialist, is planning to appear before the board on Friday to address the club’s petition.
She declined to share many details about her stance on the petition, but stated that her suggestions to the planning board may be in opposition to the yacht club’s plans.
“Based on our manatee protection plan, we’re recommending something different,” Richie said.
The planning board will meet Friday at 9 a.m. in the community meeting room of the new Marco Island Police Department building at 51 Bald Eagle Drive.
Day 4: Missing hunter Jamey Mosch ...
Day 3: Searching for Jamey Mosch
Cape Romano's infamous dome home
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.