FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – The city commission in Flagler Beach is getting ready to put a height ban on buildings, especially companies wanting to put in rooftop bars, restaurants, and other public spaces on top.
The city already has a 35-foot limit for these types of buildings but allowed the new Margaritaville Compas hotel that’s being built to go much higher than 35 feet.
The hotel will be four stories tall when it’s done with a rooftop bar, which technically should not have been allowed according to the city’s charter.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
City Manager Dale Martin, who was hired by the city after the project was approved, said allowing the hotel to be that tall was a mistake.
“There were some oversight collaboration issues or coordination issues with what the city commission approved, with what the architect submitted, with what our staff reviewed, and what was finally permitted by the city,” he said.
Martin said the city’s charter gives the height limit that should have been followed, but exceptions written in it caused confusion, too.
“A 35-foot height limit with the exceptions as described in the land development regulations. Those regulations allow for a building to go up to as high as 49 feet, but the provisions also restrict any stories over three stories,” he said.
Now, the city commission, in an effort to make sure that doesn’t happen again, is working on a new ordinance that blatantly states buildings must be restricted to 35 feet when there are public spaces on top.
“There will be some exceptions for mechanical equipment and architectural features but they definitely want it to forbid public use of rooftops above 35 feet,” said Martin.
This new ordinance will go to the city commissioners next week for another reading.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: