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PO Box 1212 Tampa, FL 33601 Pinellas Updated October 2005
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City, project synchronize Maderia Beach - The city's first planned development sailed through its most important hurdle Wednesday and will likely receive final approval later this month.
The $33-million BellArte on the Gulf represents a marked departure from past development projects in the city.
Under the city's brand new Planned Development (PD) rules, developers must work closely with city planners and officials in a quid pro quo relationship in order to get variances to normal building regulations.
In the case of the BellArte project, the developers agreed to rebuild and refurbish a beach access walkway and dune walkover, as well as install a bus stop pad and conduit for future undergrounding of utilities.
The redesigned beach access area will have brick pavers, a public outdoor shower, new landscaping, a higher rebuilt dune walkover, and decorative lighting.
The PD process also resulted in a major building design change, from a single building to three narrower, taller buildings. The result, according to the city, is a less massive project with broad spaces between the 80-foot-tall buildings that allow views of the beach and the Gulf of Mexico.
The city, in turn, agreed to rezone the property from RFM Resort Facilities Medium to R-3 Medium Density Multifamily Residential, as well as grant setback and height variances.
"We are very pleased with the PD process," developer Bill Schwandt said. "City Manager Jill Silverboard and Community Development Director Paula Cohen both did a very professional job. They have a tremendous vision for the city."
Schwandt's three-building, Mediterranean Revival-style luxury condominium project, located at 1600, 13620 and 13630 Gulf Blvd., has 17 units selling for between $1.95-million and $2.2-million.
Each 3,458-square-foot unit will occupy an entire floor and include three bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths and 10-foot-high ceilings.
The buildings will rise six stories over the ground-floor parking level, which will include enclosed two-car garages for each unit, as well as an elevator entry and pool and mechanical equipment. A pool area will be located between the buildings and the beach.
The second floor of each building will encompass a clubhouse and fitness room. The units in the third through seventh floors feature three bedrooms, a separate study, three exterior covered decks, and an enclosed lobby that accesses a secure elevator.
"We think we got the best possible project out of the PD process," architect Mark Jonnatti said.
City Commission members appear to agree. They voted unanimously to approve the PD project Wednesday and are scheduled for a final vote Oct. 18.
"This is the kind of thing I'd like to see," Commissioner Art Thomas said.
The 2-acre site, which is now vacant, originally included the Wits End Motel, the Sea Island Apartment Motel and the Grey Gull Motel.
Schwandt said he hopes to begin construction by mid November and estimates it will take 13 months to complete the project.
Other beach projects previously completed by Schwandt include Snug Harbour, a 38-unit condo and 25-slip marina project in Madeira Beach; and Sea Gems, a nine-unit gulffront condominium project in Indian Rocks Beach.
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