Barbara Molina
By Dan Moffett
Five years and countless hours of deliberation in the making, the Briny Breezes’ comprehensive land use plan officially became the blueprint for the community’s future when it won the unanimous approval of the Town Council on Dec. 19.
The plan would enable the town to expand beyond its mobile-home-park heritage by allowing traditional one- and two-story single-family structures, a commercial corridor of small businesses and low-rise multistory condos and rental units on the west side of State Road A1A.
It is the most significant course-setting for the seaside community since the $510 million Ocean Land sale fell apart in 2007 and left residents wondering what their future should look like. It is the first update of the town’s land-use plan since 1989.
Jerry Lower, the chairman of the town’s Planning and Zoning Board that developed the plan, says Briny will benefit from allowing more storm-worthy housing — homes that are more insurable — and having the flexibility to make changes if it wants.
“Right now our zoning says we have two businesses, we have some public facilities, we have some parking lots,” said Lower, who is the publisher of The Coastal Star. “We don’t have a lot of freedom in what we can allow ourselves to do. So this whole comprehensive plan is set up with the idea of giving ourselves the freedom to evolve if and when we choose to.”
But changes will occur only if Briny Breezes Inc., which owns the park, wants them. The corporation is a co-operative of residents who own voting shares based on the size and location of their lots. It will be up to the corporation to decide how the new 117-page document is implemented.
“The comprehensive plan allows change but doesn’t mandate it,” said Alderman Sue Thaler.
The plan now goes to the state for final approval and adoption.
In other business:
• The Town Council had to do some scrambling to fill seats and have a quorum for the December meeting after the abrupt resignation of newly minted Mayor Gerard Devine.
The day before the meeting, Devine sent an 11-word fax to the town: “Effective immediately, I hereby resign as Mayor of Briny Breezes, Florida.”
Council members said they were blindsided and have no idea why he quit. “Who knows, it could be anything,” said Alderman Nancy Boczon.
With Alderman Pete Fingerhut absent, Devine’s exit forced the council to install Alderman Thaler as its president and move Sharon Kendrigan from president to mayor, a position she said she will hold for only a day. Kendrigan said she was standing by her plan that the December meeting would end her seven-year run on the council.
“She will be missed,” said Boczon, who said she asked Kendrigan to stay on as mayor. “She’s a workaholic. She’s a smart woman who knows how to organize. You couldn’t ask for anybody better.”
Kendrigan said her appreciation for government and public service was kindled during her early years in southern Minnesota farm country when she held office in her local 4-H. “I have learned a lot about government in the last seven years,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed it and now I wish everyone good luck.”
• On another 3-0 vote, the council unanimously approved Barbara Molina to fill the council seat vacated by Kendrigan.
Molina first visited Briny in 2002 and moved to the community full-time in July. For two decades, she lived in Kaiserlautern, Germany, and worked as a civilian teacher for the children of U.S. military members at Ramstein Air Base. She taught French and Spanish and is also fluent in German.
“I think it’s important to be active in one’s community,” Molina said.
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