ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — St. Pete Beach has major developments on the horizon that will reshape hotels along the beach. The changes will impact those who vacation on St. Pete Beach and those who live there.
Some residents expressed concerns with developments because they believe it will turn the tides on their small beach community.
"We want a small quaint beach community," resident Deborah Schechner said. Schechner has lived in St. Pete Beach for the past 25 years and has seen sizable changes on the sand.
"We love our paradise and it’s sad to see it slowly going away," she said.
With developers moving in, she believes her peaceful paradise is out with the tide.
"The Sirata and TradeWinds are massive developments like we’ve never even dreamt would come to our city," Schechner said.
The Sirata and TradeWinds resorts have been approved to expand and redevelop their locations. That includes adding more rooms to accommodate additional visitors.
"When I take a walk on the beach, it looks like I’m in Key West. Everybody’s there for the sun. There’s not a seat to be found along the beach, so we have a lot of people," resident Claudine Reece said.
Reece is a part of an advocacy group called, "Protect St. Pete Beach." The group recently filed a writ in the court system to fight against the TradeWind's expansion project.
According to their website, they believe the city commission failed to afford procedural due process, departed from the essential requirements of law and failed to support its decision with competent substantial evidence with the TradeWinds approval. The same group previously filed against Sirata's expansion projects in the Pinellas County Courts system. Officials with the Sirata have responded to that petition.
Some residents like Reece worry that newly renovated hotels will change the look of St. Pete Beach.
"It’s supposed to be cafés and shops and unfortunately we’re looking at 20-foot concrete walls," Reece said.
Others see those walls as serving a purpose. City Commissioner Karen Marriott explained tourists should be able to stay in up-to-date hotels when they visit as they support the local economy.
"It is as much their special place as it is the special place of the residents who live here and I think we do them in disservice if we don’t allow the hotels on the beach to keep being viable places," Marriott said.
Marriott serves on the city commission but is also a resident of St. Pete Beach. She owns a local business with her husband and understands the impact tourists have on the local economy. "Just the residential population of the beach doesn’t support all those businesses," Marriott added.
Other city officials don’t value visitors the same.
"I think the big concern for me and most of our residents is when we’re looking at these developments... are we putting out residents first or are we putting our visitors first?" Mayor of St. Pete Beach Mayor Adrian Petrila questioned.
Petrila voted against both hotel projects.
"One of the concerns I had as a resident before I ran for office was the over-development of St. Pete Beach...becoming the next Clearwater or Miami Beach," he said.
Petrila said as these projects were being discussed, he received about 500 emails and 98 percent were against the proposed hotel's redevelopment plans. Others like Marriott disagree and see the need for those hotels to redevelop.
"We’re getting some new buildings that are going to be the current building codes and more resilient if we do have hurricanes. Both the Sirata and the TradeWinds have agreed to rebuild the dune system behind their hotels," Marriott added.
Officials with the Sirata and TradeWinds have attended community meetings. At a meeting in February, Sirata officials took time to address concerns.
"Let us come back with a revision or two or three revisions that might give you comfort," Sirata officials previously stated.
TradeWinds officials have attended meetings and interviewed with 10 Tampa Bay back in April to voice their value.
"This is game changer for St. Pete Beach. We're talking jobs. We're talking more opportunities for the public," TradeWinds spokesperson Kyle Parks said.
Community members attended those meetings as well to express their concerns about the projects.
"We have to be worried about destroying our environment. What’s going to happen with the turtles?" Schechner said.
Even with their differing views on beach development, everyone agrees that St. Pete Beach is a great place.
"This is the best place to live," Petrila said.
Petrila said a new city manager is starting in July. He hopes she will be able to manage development concerns on the beach.