Town Hall Meeting #3 - for Input to Develop the New Property (555 150th Avenue)

MINUTES TOWN HALL MEETING #3 FOR INPUT TO DEVELOP THE NEW PROPERTY AT 555 150TH AVENUE FEBRUARY 3, 2026 6:00 P.M. A public town hall meeting was held to gather community input on the future use and redevelopment of the recently acquired property located at 555 150th Avenue. The session was designed as an interactive forum to gather resident feedback and explore potential site concepts. City Officials present at the meeting: Megan Powers, Assistant to City Manager Megan Wepfer, Public Works Director Marci Forbes, Community Development Director Andrew Morris, Long Range Planner Brian Crabtree, Marina Manager Mayor Anne-Marie Brooks Vice Mayor Ray Kerr Commissioner Housh Ghovaee Commissioner McGeehen Zoning Discussion Megan Powers, Assistant to the City Manager, opened the meeting and introduced the staff present: Community Development Director Marci Forbes, Long Range Planner Andrew Morris, Public Works Director Megan Wepfer, and Marina Manager Brian Crabtree. Community Development Director Forbes explained that the property at 555 150th Avenue was currently designated as a Planned Development (PD), but because the previous construction plan did not proceed, it would need to be rezoned back to its previous C-4 Marine Commercial zoning district. Long-Range Planner Andrew Morris noted that C-4 Marine Commercial Zoning would permit various commercial uses with a marine focus. He explained that retail, restaurants, and other commercial uses would be permitted, while institutional and public administration services. Facilities would require special exception approval through a public hearing before a special magistrate. Public park use would meet special exception criteria. Director Forbes noted that the rezoning process would involve several public engagements similar to the PD process, with a timeline of eight months to a year, depending on the number of workshops. She emphasized that the C-4 zoning was expected to accommodate most proposed uses for the property, either as permitted uses or through the special exception process. Several residents inquired about specific zoning considerations: Page 1 of 4  ● A resident asked whether mixed use would be permitted in C-4 zoning, which Mr. Morris confirmed, with a commercial floor ratio of 0.55. ● Another resident voiced concern about possible parking reductions, which Mr. Morris clarified mainly apply to the Commercial Core District, not the Causeway District where this property is located. ● A resident asked if a park would be permitted under C-4 zoning, which Morris confirmed could be achieved through the special exception process. Community Visioning – Parks and Open Space Public Works Director Wepfer led the discussion on parks and open space considerations, asking residents what kind of place they imagined for the property in everyday use. Handouts displaying ideas previously gathered at town halls were provided. A resident inquired about the submerged land and restrictions for marine use. Director Wepfer explained that within the existing submerged land footprint, development is possible, but extending beyond it would require additional permitting. Marina Manager Brian Crabtree clarified that the existing pilings marked the edge of the submerged land, and any expansion beyond that would require state approval and environmental studies. A resident shared that he had previously proposed a large in-water marina for the property and suggested a high-and-dry boat storage facility. He advocated for utilizing the property for public use and boating activities. Director Wepfer clarified that the city owns 25 feet off the seawall of the property's submerged land. Another resident who previously managed Bowden's Marina highlighted the unique opportunity for covered boat docks and proposed a small restaurant area with docking facilities. He pointed out that the boating industry brings in significant revenue in Florida and advised against building a parking garage, strongly advocating for marina development instead. Several residents shared visions for the property including: ● A "baby boardwalk" concept with boat slips ● A combined use that would cater to both boaters and non-boaters with entertainment options ● An elevated design where boat parking could be underneath with park space, retail, and restaurants above ground Mobility and Access Concerns The discussion shifted to how residents would access the property. A resident expressed concerns about traffic management, especially regarding left turns in and out of the property. Director Wepfer clarified that when the PD was established for the previous development, the intersection and turn lane at 150th Avenue and the marina entrance were moved west to improve traffic flow. A resident highlighted the importance of connectivity to the rest of the city, proposing a wide walkway under the bridge to link to the park on the other side of the road. This would enable pedestrians and cyclists to reach Madeira Way without dealing with traffic. He also mentioned the difficulty of connecting the marina to the new property, as they seem disconnected from each other. Page 2 of 4 Another resident suggested developing a "sister" to Johns Pass, featuring shops along the front and a free shuttle service between the two locations to ease parking issues and enhance the connection between the areas. A resident asked whether the city had consulted with the Department of Transportation about a possible future bridge replacement. Director Forbes replied that the DOT had shown no signs of plans to replace the bridge soon, and it was not part of their current work plan. A resident with an engineering background pointed out that if a high-rise bridge were built, it would need to start near Duhme Road and land at Gulf Boulevard, which would create access issues for those living along 150th Avenue. Public Use Considerations Ms. Powers said the public facilities residents would like to see on the property included: ● Restrooms ● A dog park ● Parking facilities ● An entertainment venue for concerts and events ● A Ferris wheel Resiliency and Long-Term Planning The discussion focused on how the site would perform over time in a coastal community and how to make it resilient for the future. A resident with an environmental engineering background emphasized that development should happen in phases to generate revenue before expanding, noting that dock space could provide a significant return on investment. The resident also pointed out that any construction must be at least 13 feet above sea level, proposing an elevated design with parking underneath and public spaces above. Another resident voiced concern about environmental issues related to reinstalling docks, including potential impacts on soft coral and manatees. A resident asked whether the city has a plan for repaying bonds used to buy the property and what percentage of the land would be for revenue-generating versus non-revenue uses like parks. Director Wepfer said they don't have such a plan yet because they are still gathering public input before deciding on the next steps. Next Steps Director Forbes outlined the next steps in the process: ● Continue with the rezoning back to C-4, which would happen simultaneously with the visioning process ● Hold another town hall meeting on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. ● Present findings to the City Commission at the March workshop meeting to receive further direction ● Based on Commission direction, potentially develop multiple renderings incorporating public feedback Director Forbes highlighted the importance of learning from neighboring communities' experiences. She mentioned that no decisions have been made about whether the city will Page 3 of 4 develop the property itself or pursue private partnerships, as these choices depend on the final vision for the site. Director Forbes thanked residents for their participation and valuable input, noting that the town hall meetings were essential for ensuring the property would serve the community's needs and desires. Conclusion Ms. Powers thanked everyone for attending and announced that staff would remain available for individual questions. The meeting adjourned at 7:02 p.m. Page 4 of 4