Sam Casella, FAICP, PP
                                                                                                        Partner
 

May 12, 2005

Steve Cottrell, Town Manager
Town of Belleair
901 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
Belleair, Florida 33756

To the Town Manager, Town Clerk, Mayor, Town Commissioners, and members of the Historic Preservation Board and the Planning and Zoning Board

Dear Town Officials:
I would like to submit for your consideration the attached Review and Opinion on the Application for Demolition Permit – Belleview Biltmore Hotel.  This document analyzes the question of whether the town manager can grant and the town commission approve the application for a demolition permit.  It identifies three important issues:
1.  Is the demolition permit consistent with the town’s comprehensive plan?
2.  Is a demolition permit in fact a development permit?
3.  Has the demolition permit received the level of review required by the town’s land development code?

My findings are that (1) the proposed demolition permit is not consistent with the town’s comprehensive plan, (2) a demolition permit is a development permit (Section 66-10), and (3) the development or redevelopment of the Belleview Biltmore is a major development (Section 66-162) that requires a development plan review process involving all of you (Section 66-164).

These findings lead, on more than one ground, to the conclusion that a demolition permit cannot be approved at this time.

It is very important that the Historic Preservation Board have this information when they meet with the owners of the hotel; that the Town Manager is aware of it so that he will not issue the demolition permit; and that the Town Commission receives it and does not approve of the demolition permit on appeal.

Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.

Best regards,
 

Sam Casella