I just read an article which says that one of the city’s policy recommendations contained in a draft plan include: Encouraging the use of density transfer credits to create residences, hotel space and mixed-use development.

Who, besides the Planning Board and City Council has showed the slightest interest in any of these three items? For years the MICA Wave surveys have showed that residents are overwhelmingly opposed to density transfers. The most recent MICA Wave survey showed that 88 percent of those voting opposed the transfer of density credits especially in the already congested midtown area and 89 percent opposed any new hotels being built.

Now you are not only allowing this, you are “encouraging” it. Do any of you even listen to or care what the residents want their island to be?

The following hotels exist on the island currently: Marriott Resort, Hilton Resort, Ocean Beach Resort, Marco Island Lakeside Inn, Boathouse Motel, Olde Marco Inn and Suites, Marriott Crystal Shores, and the Marco Bay Resort. We are in no way lacking for hotels.

At the initial planning board meetings some years ago, the first four of these hotels were all represented and confirmed that they had plenty of vacancies even during peak season and a dearth of them in the off-season. These hotels suggested that this last parcel of buildable land should be used to provide most entertainment options for both residents and tourists as there is not a lot to do on Marco when it is rainy season or in the evenings. With my comments, I was accused of being against capitalism. The need that the Planning Board referred to was simply not there and still is not there.

The island offers a variety of both large resorts, smaller hotels and inns, condo-hotels, timeshares operating as hotels. Whatever motive could the planning board and city council now have for going so far as to “encourage” building another hotel despite the residents’ opposition and the lack of need?

Lastly, how many more times do the residents need to voice their opposition to mixed-use development?

Respectfully ...

Marcia Mandel

Lakeside Inn, Marco Island