Clearwater Beach VariancesMy family has been vacationing at Clearwater Beach for over thirty-five years. We originally came to Clearwater Beach with our four young children who have since married and blessed us with thirteen grandchildren. They all love Clearwater Beach as much as their parents when we first took them. Our entire family takes at least one trip to the beach together every year as a mini family reunion and to relive the memories of years past. There is a special charm and warmth in the Clearwater Beach community that is so very difficult to find anywhere else in Florida today. Earlier this spring when we had all flown in to Tampa from four different states to go to Clearwater Beach for one of our annual trips, we got some disturbing news. For as far back as I can remember we have stayed at the beach motel Sea Captain. During our recent ten-day visit to the beach, we discovered that larger towering hotels are threatening to destroy the quaint beauty and charm of our favorite vacation spot. I support the rights of property owners to develop their properties as they choose, but not when it violates existing laws and regulations that were established to protect the beach community that we love so very much. Please don’t allow the neighbors of the Sea Captain to infringe upon our special place by granting them the variances that could make Clearwater Beach a tunnel of concrete structures that destroy your unique beach community. It would be a shame to see that special place in the beach community become like so many other Florida beaches that are overbuilt. Once it starts, there is no turning back. It would break my family’s hearts to leave Clearwater Beach as our favorite vacation spot. Please don’t grant the variances that would destroy a very special place we have loved for years. - Lynn McColl
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