More Boat Slips for Clearwater HarborBy Vicki Jackson and Anne McKay GarrisBoating enthusiasts in the vicinity of Clearwater may be pleased to know that a second marina development on East Shore Drive, Clearwater Beach, is in the works at City Hall. Proposed by Woods Consulting of Dunedin, Florida, this marina will be on the property addressed at 443 and 463, on the northeast corner of Papaya and East Shore Drive. It will include a total of 50 boat slips, with 38 offered for rent or lease to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Since this property is in the Marina District of Clearwater Beach, under the guidelines of the City's Beach by Design, this project will likely be quickly approved by the City's Planning Department. Unbelievably, even with a dock width of 236 feet and a length of 235 feet, variances will not be required for construction on the 315 foot wide property. Proposed total decking exceeds 7,000 square feet. The project includes 16 parking spaces, one handicap-designated. The dock is designed to avoid negatively impacting the marine environment, and boat slips will not be constructed over the submerged vegetation. To minimize interference with navigation, the outer tie poles will be marked with reflective tape, at the request of Clearwater Harbormaster, William Morris. Signage and prohibitions are planned to prevent damage to the sea grass areas, including in-water markers requested by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. There will be no fueling facilities or commercial activities that would contribute to a water quality problem. Also proposed, is a portable sewage pump-out unit to service slip occupants. A spokesman for the Clearwater Planning Department stated that landscaping will comply with Code Florida Grade 1, and will be native to Florida; this includes palms and oaks. The Clearwater Development Board will review this proposal on January 19, 2010.
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