Why is redevelopment controversial?
A. There are three main issues which divide residents over redevelopment in the beach area. The first is the extent to which the city commission should allow variances and exceptions from the zoning and building codes and other land-use rules to facilitate new projects which may affect public access to the beach. Such exceptions usually benefit the developer only. The second issue is to what extent such rules should evolve away from tradition to encourage development. Proponents of redevelopment claim that bigger development widens the tax base of the city and thus benefits the residents indirectly. The third issue is whether the city should permit commercial development on city-owned lands near the beach which are now used primarily for recreation and parking. Q.
