BELLEAIR BLUFFS -- Commissioner Bob Russo does not want Belleair Bluffs to look like the house that Jack built, a higgeldy-piggeldy collection of commercial buildings that do not lend themselves to any aesthetic appeal.
He made that clear at Monday night's regular City Commission meeting when it was revealed that a site on Indian Rocks Road now occupied by a former vegetable market will be in the near future a bank.
Robert David, the city's public works director and code enforcement officer, said requirements for city supervision of site plans are for those of a half acre or more.
Russo does not want his aims blocked by that kind of technicality. He is strong on having Belleair Bluffs pleasing to the eye and hits on the theme frequently.
For example, Russo said that the Walgreen's store had planned a chain link fence on the property but after being contacted with aesthetics in mind changed their plan and erected a short and attractive wall.
The location that brought Russo's concern to the fore Monday night is probably less than half an acre so may not come under the requirement of the law.
"But," Russo argues, "how can anyone be against making our city as attractive as possible?"
He says he cannot understand why Mayor Chris Arbutine or his fellow commissioners would oppose him on his goal of making the city pleasing to the eye.
In other action, the commission moved ahead on having the city attorney, Tom Trask, work on the wording of a request for proposal on trash pickup, a resolution setting minimum and maximum salary figures for employees was approved and Peter Ferrara, currently an altenate member of the Board of Adjustment, was unanimously approved as a regular board member.