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Article
Courtesy of TV Channel 13 News
By Greg
Pallone
Published
March 23, 2015
COCOA BEACH -- A large group of Cocoa Beach condo owners
is concerned about plans to bring rental watercraft into a nearby marina.
Dozens are expected at a meeting Wednesday. They don't want the city to
approve plans they say could put manatees in danger and create issues
outside their waterfront
properties.
"The manatees will leave, and where
are they going to go?" said condo owner Bonnie Prizgint.
This area is near the Cocoa Beach Causeway locals call
"manatee cove."
At any given time daily, dozens, sometimes hundreds, of sea
cows congregate in the water near the condos, where they
find fresh water and mate.
Prizgint lives in a condo overlooking the water, and is the
president of one of four condo associations balking at the
proposal of the Island Time Marina bringing in
rentals like pontoon boats, kayaks and standup paddle
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Residents at a Cocoa Beach condo building are
fighting plans to allow for watercraft rentals in a nearby marina.
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They said some 800 fellow residents are on their side
opposing the expansion.
"I just don't think the people who are going to rent the boats are going to
have a course on how to operate that boat," she said.
"I don't condemn somebody trying to make some extra money or having a
business, but this is not the right spot. You've got hundreds of people
saying no, and one guy
saying yes," said Ron Knuppel, another condo owner.
James Stadler bought the commercial marina about a year ago and has been
fixing it up.
He's renovating the entire property that has been worn down over the past
several years.
"We are re-doing the docks, making it nice," said Stadler.
There are 30 boat slips total, and his plan is to use three of them for two
motorized pontoon boats, and also paddle boards and kayaks. He wants to rent
to families and
enforce a strict 'no wake' zone.
He's requested a special exception to the city code to bring them in and
rent on an hourly or daily basis.
And if the expansion comes through he will make sure renters know how to
operate them safely for themselves and wildlife.
"I want to make sure people know what they're doing when they go out on the
boat, but you know, they're going to be small boats, small horsepower
motors, it's not like
they can take off fast," Stadler said.
As part of his request, Stadler said there will be no personal watercraft
rentals, which can go at high speeds. And they intend to be good stewards of
the environment.
The Board of Adjustment meeting takes place Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. at Cocoa
Beach City Hall where they will either approve or reject the request.
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