A major point of interest was the request by Tai Harris PA, representing Island Community Church Inc, seeking amendments to the Village’s future land use map from public semi-public services to mixed use for a specific property, along with a zoning map amendment from public semi-public services to Highway commercial. The property, located at 83250 Overseas Highway in Upper Matecumbe Key, formerly housed the Island Community Church, which is relocating to a new location. This change aims to repurpose the existing building for commercial use, resonating with the property’s history as the original Islamorada movie theater established in 1974. The Local Planning Agency (LPA) had previously recommended approval of these amendments by a vote of 5-2. The council’s deliberation on this matter included a historical perspective shared by a public speaker, Tony Hammond, who connected the property’s past as a cinema theater with its future potential and underscored the significance of rectifying past zoning changes that affected property values.

In addition to the church property amendments, the council engaged in intensive discussion on affordable housing, an issue within the community. The conversation spanned various aspects of housing policy, including the definition of “fronting” on US1 and its implications for the eligibility of properties to host affordable housing units. The council grappled with the interpretations of the Village code and considered potential code changes for clarity, particularly regarding the Old Highway’s eligibility for deed-restricted affordable housing. The council members shared differing views on whether to adjust the code or maintain the current interpretation, with implications for both property values and the availability of affordable housing stock.

The council also discussed the Rate of Growth Ordinance (ROGO) allocation process, reviewing the Department of Commerce’s Florida Keys hurricane evacuation modeling report and considering a public process to gather data and feedback on future allocations. The planning department proposed a timeline with recommendations to be provided by October, with council members reaching a consensus to proceed with the proposed timeline. Further, they noted the potential need for an extension of the moratorium on market rate building, deferring a discussion on this to a future meeting.

Another discussion centered around the possibility of creating reservations for affordable housing allocations based on specific projects. The council members debated the feasibility and implications of such a policy, with some emphasizing the need for thorough analysis before any decisions. The Coral Bay Marina project was mentioned as an example, highlighting the challenges of ensuring affordable housing initiatives progress smoothly.

An issue arose regarding a property’s zoning change, with one council member requesting further documentation to verify historical details of the property’s zoning history. The conversation also touched on the inclusion of the property within the Florida Forever program for acquisition, and the applicant’s intention to use the property for office purposes, leading to further debate about the potential implications of the zoning change.

The council addressed a request by James Lino Esquire on behalf of Marker 8279 LLC to abandon and vacate a portion of Orange Street right of way. The planning director presented historical site plans, and the applicant argued that there was no longer a public benefit to retaining the right of way. An opponent raised concerns about the impact on pedestrian and bike activities and potential adverse possession issues. The council engaged in a discussion but did not reach a resolution at this stage.

The meeting concluded with a vote on whether to abandon a road for the purpose of creating a safe entrance to a retail space, resulting in a 3 to 2 vote in favor of the motion. This decision was met with dissent from some council members.