
Scott Spencer Mass Mailing"Please, sir, I want some more!" No this Dickensian character is not Oliver Twist, but Scott Spencer who recently sent a mass mailing to the citizens of Belleair. Spencer lives in the Belleview Biltmore development surrounded by high rise condos and a five story hotel. He has joined two others in a lawsuit against the Town of Belleair objecting to Legg Mason's plans to build a spa next to his home. Spencer claims the proposed spa will be five stories high when it will be only two stories. He also claims that the spa will be located only 40 feet from his home when the figure is 46 feet 4 inches. What you may not know is Legg Mason representatives have met with Spencer on numerous occasions. Each meeting resulted in tentative agreements on plan revisions only to be followed by letters reciting additional demands and assertions. More, more, more! Legg Mason agreed to reduce the size of the spa and increased the setback along the Spencer's property line by 9'. It is rumored that Legg Mason also agreed to give Spencer a use easement for the north 14 feet of the spa property thereby increasing his backyard. Spencer's attorney indicated his agreement to the concessions at the Town Commission public variance hearing on May 20, 2008. Yet he wanted more. In one of his demand letters Spencer asked that Legg Mason relocate his family during construction and provide financial compensation due to his perception of permanent reduction of his property value. Maybe the rest of the Belleview Biltmore residents should ask to be relocated as well since all of us will be impacted during construction. Now he is back for more. Neighbors wonder why Spencer wants to live in a condo/hotel development. Neighbors wonder why Spencer allegedly turned down a verbal offer to purchase his home last year. Neighbors wonder why Spencer has no regard for his guests parking in their private parking spaces. But foremost neighbors hope Spencer is satiated soon and stops asking for more, more, more. Otherwise we may all end up with a boarded up hotel in our backyards, much like the Vinoy Hotel sat from 1974 until the early 1990s. - Lil Cromier
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