SAN CARLOS ISLAND, Fla. -- Discussion continued today for a proposed development on San Carlos Island, that has some people who live there worried.
Some residents said the area is too small for the proposed Harbour Marina Village, but developers believe it will improve the area. The development would include a 14 story building, with living units, shops, restaurants, storage and parking, on a vacant lot on Main Street. The site is currently zoned for industrial use, so the developers would have to change the zoning to residential. "It's a great opportunity for bar managers, sheriffs deputies, fire fighters, police, to have a destination to live that is close to where they work," said Christopher Spiro, with Spiro & Associates Marketing, Advertising, PR and Brand Architecture.
However, residents Fox 4 spoke to said their small piece of paradise is already congested. "Our little island is only half a nautical mile wide and it's less than one nautical mile long. That's not a very big space for all those people that are already there," said resident Henry Blakley.
Traffic is also a huge concern with residents. "San Carlos Boulevard is a parking lot most of the time now, Main street gets really bad from time to time," said Charlie Whitehead, president of the beach area civic association. "When I came in here yesterday, I was completely convinced that the project was too much. There was too much hype, too many units, too much. Everything I've learned in the last day and a half has me convinced that it's worse than I thought."
The hearing on the issue will continue on May 29.
