Kudos to Beach Neighborhood AssociationsI want to publicly thank the three beach neighborhood associations, Clearwater Beach Neighborhood Association, Sand Key Civic Association and Island Estates Civic Association for working together to communicate to the City Council our reasons for wanting to discourage hotel development within our residential neighborhoods. I also thank the City Council for excluding Island Estates from the hotel room density increase. I especially appreciated this decision as I walked along South Gulf View this evening. My senses were bombarded by the sounds of cars and motorcycles speeding by, loud music playing from several boats docked at Quality Hotel and Shepherd's, several motorcyclists parked at the Hess Gas Station and some seriously littered streets. It was fun to watch all the young people strolling by in beach garb and visiting the shops and restaurants. It was also relieving to return to Island Estates where the gas station was empty, the streets were free of traffic and there was no boom boom music playing anywhere. I appreciate the efforts of our neighborhood associations and the decision of our City Council to keep our residential neighborhood clean, quiet and secure. - Gina McPherson
|