HERE'S WHAT A COUPLE IN THE MEADOWS FOUND WHEN THEY RETURNED TO KEY WEST THIS FALL (Originally published Fall 2004.)

May 2008 Update. Below is a story describing what happened to couple who no longer live here, but who had an unpleasant experience relating to variances (or, in this case lack thereof) in their neighborhood. They were told that the outside investors were granted a "staff variance," apparently an extra-legal deal granted behind closed doors. The general consensus of KWNA contributors has been that the variance authority should be in the hands of elected officials. In that way some degree of public responsibility is maintained. Now (May 2008) the Commission seems to be in the process of turning that authority (admittedly a time-consuming responsibility for the Commission) over to an appointed Planning Board. Some homeowners have expressed concern over this change. Others say the fact that there will be seven members, each appointed by a Commissioner, will maintain a degree of public answerability. Has anyone seen the ordinance? Is there any small print that should concern homeowners?  And does it pass the "Three Pronged Test"?     Comments and opinions are encouraged.

Investors, who apparently don't intend to live there, began a large addition on house that was uncomfortably close to our neighbor's house. For some reason, the City did not require a Variance, even though the improvements were within the "setback." In the past, other neighbors were required to get variances, even for minor changes.

The investors made no effort, as a courtesy, to let the neighbors located a mere 18 inches away know of their plans, made no attempt to offer to minimize construction noise, parking problems, and, in fact, have only said, "Talk to my lawyer." Click on this picture and the two below for a closer look.

The sad facts are that, because the project was allowed to start, and because uncaring bureaucrats downtown have little incentive to protect adjoining owners, there is little our neighbors can do. Most of the construction will be done by the time they leave for the summer.... Would you treat your neighbors 18 inches away in this manner?

OF COURSE YOU WOULDN'T! AND NEITHER WOULD WE! Among other things, few of us would be so discourteous. Most of us appreciate our neighborhoods, and value good relations with people beside whom we actually plan to live. Frankly, most of us don't hold such behavior to be consistent with  commonly held Judeo-Christian principles and American citizenship. Outside developers and city bureaucrats apparently see the idea of Common Courtesy as an impediment to what they see as "progress."

LATEST UPDATE! THEY'VE GIVEN UP AND PUT THEIR HOUSE ON THE MARKET! UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS A SCENARIO THAT IS BEING REPEATED ALL OVER THE "HISTORIC DISTRICT." (MOST PEOPLE WON'T TALK ABOUT IT TILL AFTER THEY'VE SOLD, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.) CITY GOVERNMENT SEEMS TO BE CONTROLLED BY A CYNICAL POLITICAL MACHINE MORE INTERESTED IN "CHURNING" PROPERTIES THAN MAINTAINING STABILITY. THE RATIONALE IS "REAL ESTATE PRICES HAVE GONE UP, SO 'CASH OUT' AND LEAVE, LOSERS."

WHAT CAN WE DO TO PROTECT OUR PROPERTIES? THERE ISN'T MUCH THAT WE CAN DO EXCEPT TRY TO WORK WITH THE COMMISSIONERS WHO SUPPORT US. WE CAN TRY TO EXPLAIN THAT THERE ARE STILL A GREAT MANY PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OLD TOWN AND WHO DON'T WANT TO BE DISPLACED BY TOURIST ACCOMMODATIONS. IT WILL BE BETTER FOR KEY WEST TO RETAIN SOME SEMBLANCE OF THE RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER OF OLD TOWN.

KEY WEST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATONS "Working together to improve our Community"