The Planning Board approval will go to the City Commission for the final go-ahead, most likely at the commission’s Feb. 3 meeting.

Spottswood’s plan calls for redevelopment of the triangle area of the island where U.S. 1 enters Key West. The Days Inn, Waffle House, Holiday Inn, Comfort Inn, Radisson and Conch Tour Train station will all be taken down and replaced with a 450-room hotel, 50 workforce housing apartments, 33 timeshare units, 21 residential condos, a 20,500-square-foot conference center, 21,000 square feet of retail space and a 250-seat restaurant and bar on a 17-acre parcel at 3820 N. Roosevelt Blvd.

The development agreement rolls all necessary city approvals, conditional uses and variances into one phased project.

“It’s going to be what you see when you come into town. Something that makes you feel like you’ve arrived in Key West,” said city planning director Amy Kimball-Murley before Thursday’s meeting.

Special session

The Planning Board convenes for a special session on Jan. 22 to discuss changes to the city’s Building Permit Allocation System (BPAS), proposed by city staff.

The BPAS is governed by the city’s rate-of-growth ordinance, declared expired by Judge Wayne Miller in early 2008. The ordinance mandates development, density and zoning according to hurricane evacuation clearance times that were formulated after the 1990 census.

Currently, development in Key West has been designated as zoning-in-progress, which effectively halts all development except for workforce housing.

The proposed changes, made by the city’s planning department, are primarily administrative and add a mechanism to account for all existing and new permit allocations, and require a report to the City Commission annually.

The Planning Board in December voted to table the proposed changes, citing a desire to have direct involvement from the state Department of Community Affairs, the agency that has final say over land use in areas of critical state concern like the Keys.

Since then, city staff has received a courtesy report from the DCA giving preliminary support of the changes, triggering another review by the Planning Board.

City planning staff was instructed by the City Commission in November 2008 to make minimal changes to the ordinance until a thorough rewriting of the city’s comprehensive plan, which provides long-term guidelines and laws to regulate land use and was penned in 1993, can be undertaken throughout the year.

The Planning Board meets at 6 p.m. on Jan. 22 in Old City Hall, Greene Street.

Source: http://www.keysnet.com/news/story/61360.html

The festivities begin Friday night with the Lobsterfest DUVAL CRAWL then Saturday it’s time to celebrate that sweet juicy taste sensation we all love… the Florida lobster. The Free street fair opens at noon and the first band hits the stage at 1pm. The party lasts all day and continues until 11pm! Finally, on Sunday feast on Lobster at The Doubletree Grand Key Resort’s Lobster Brunch.

Schedule of Events:
Friday August 8th, 8pm-?
Kick-Off Party Rick’s/Durty Harry’s Entertainment Complex 202 Duval St. Jam with “Cool Breeze” on the main stage in Durty Harry’s or dance to the hottest music during the Live broadcast on 92.7 WEOW from 10pm – 2am on the deck in Rick’s Upstairs

**2nd Annual**
Lobsterfest Duval Crawl
Immediately following sunset, join hundreds of party people for a stroll down Duval Street. Proceeds benefit Key West High School Scholarship Fund.Join hundreds of party people Friday Night for the kick off to this year’s Lobsterfest. The “crawl” will begin immediately after sunset and last as long as you do. Participants will receive an official Lobsterfest ‘08 T-Shirt and fantastic drink specials at all participating bars. The cost is just $15 and proceeds benefit the Key West High School’s Scholarship Fund. Pick up your T-Shirt and instructions from the Ship to Shore store located in the Rick’s/Durty Harry’s Entertainment Complex, 202 Duval St. Shirts are available beginning August 5th.

Saturday August 9th, Noon-11pm
Street Fair 100, 200, 300 and 400 blocks of Duval St. Art, crafts, merchandise and of course, lots of lobster!

Saturday August 9th, 1pm-10:30pm
Free concert intersection of Duval St. and Greene St.

Sunday August 10th, 11am-3pm
Lobster Brunch – a sumptuous brunch will be served at the Double Tree – Grand Key Resort
3990 S. Roosevelt Blvd. Reservations are suggested! Call (305) 293-1818

contact erik@keywestwalkingtours.com for more details.

http://www.keywestlobsterfest.com