City unfair in development process

Concerned about development in Gulf Breeze? My experience with a project next door may be of interest. I knew I couldn't trust the developer; I learned I couldn't trust the city.

The developer tells me they will do whatever the city tells them to do- not what is required by the Land Development Code (LCD), what they said during the approval process, or even what is on their approved plan. The same two city staff members write, interpret and enforce code. In my case, when staff finished interpreting the code, it was nothing like the written code. When I asked questions, the answer would change until staff came up with a response that would finally make me stop asking questions.

The project's buffer was not part of final inspection before the certificate of occupancy was issued. I have had to plead or negotiate with the city for every bush and tree, except one, planted in the buffer. One area is adequate in its natural state, in another, truck loads of natural growth were removed, including some plants required by code to remain. Taking a cavalier approach to the truth, the city manager acknowledged the project's representative lied to me and the mayor about this removal but excused it because of the animosity the rep feels toward me. When the developer has no fear of enforcement, the neighbors will never see the required six foot, eventual twelve foot, opaque, evergreen, screen in the buffer by May 2009, three years after building occupancy.

Agreements made between the developer and the city during pre-approval meetings and staff intent not to require the developer to adhere to portions of the LDC were not disclosed during the approval process. The neighbors of this project were allowed no information about the playground, the noisiest element of the business in the commercial building next door. The council might have shown some curiosity about it and its location if it were next to their homes or that of a VIP, friend of city management, or the oft-mentioned members of the good old boy club. The project engineer plans a maintenance gate in an area the city now tells me is completely unworkable, staff plan review does not catch this error, and the city manager gives away part of our buffer, because he can, to rectify the mistake. Parking spaces are deleted in this project, at 555 Fairpoint Drive, 40 approved spaces were deleted-no public record exists in either case. Did the engineer of record certify these projects as complete?

No one on the city council represents me or is willing, or perhaps able, to provide checks and balances in a system that allows liberal and changing "interpretation" and uneven enforcement of city code. Term limits for council members might prevent the good old boy system from becoming entrenched. A nominal salary may encourage more qualified residents to run for office. The terms of the mayor and three council members are up in 2008. Let's give them all a chance to vote for themselves by fielding opponents for each office.