The proposed RV park, intended to be a luxury boutique motor coach resort, would feature 16 transient parking pads and offer amenities through the existing Turtle Cove clubhouse. The applicant, who operates the Turtle Cove Marina, suggested that the park would attract a high-end demographic to the area, citing the $70 billion RV industry as a significant potential contributor to the local economy. Despite this, the project faced scrutiny over its compatibility with the sponge docks’ historical significance, potential noise issues, and the enforcement of the proposed six-week maximum stay for guests.

Commissioners grappled with various technical aspects of the proposal, including the design and feasibility of a culvert system for the site’s drainage, given the high water table and seasonal water levels. The size of the RVs and their ability to navigate local traffic circles were also points of contention, as were the dimensions of the RV parking pads and the adherence to state health regulations.

Some residents questioned the wisdom of developing on a site prone to flooding and raised concerns about the city’s potential financial responsibility in such events.

In addition to the RV park proposal, the commissioners engaged in a discussion on a proposed ordinance to amend the city’s zoning and land development code concerning development agreements. The ordinance, which was ultimately approved, debated the terms of development agreements and the possibility of extending them by a 15-year supermajority vote.

Other topics addressed during the meeting included concerns raised during public comments about traffic issues in certain areas, the approval of a mural at Dorset Park to honor Coach Rudy and the Union Academy, and the extension of a dredge spoil site lease. There was also discourse on the city’s website needing revisions and the posting of outdated information, the reimbursement process for an artist’s materials, and a request to negotiate a development agreement for a property on US 19 North that had previously been denied for a land use amendment.

The meeting also encompassed discussions on a quasi-judicial matter regarding a game room building and bingo hall, the establishment of a boat storage facility, and the approval of a seasonal short-term rental facility RV park with 16 spaces. Deliberations were framed within a quasi-judicial proceeding, requiring the board to make findings of fact based on the evidence presented, and touched upon concerns such as traffic analysis, sidewalk installations, and the impact of the developments on the community.