Message from Mayor Brent Latham: North Bay Island Zoning Changes

For neighbors who are interested in the zoning change proposals for North Bay Island, there are many ways to learn more and get a full picture. 

This has been a long and interactive process designed primarily to address long-term flooding of our island while maintaining property value and assuring the property rights of individual owners. 

The plan as proposed:

  • reduces the footprint and buildable size of homes on NBI
  • increase setbacks from neighbors to assure more green space and light between homes 
  • provides flexibility to raise new homes off the ground in a way that secures freedom of choice and property rights 
  • reduces the current maximum height from the base floor level while allowing for the current three-story max plus an additional small enclosed rooftop structure. 

This is all a balancing act. The need to prepare for climate change and address current and future flooding means we want new homes on our vulnerable island built higher, but not on fill that simply dumps water into the street and on neighboring properties. 

We also want to prevent the brooding boxes that cover the whole lot, and hug the lot lines, while opening up green space. 

Those items are addressed in the resident-friendly proposal that goes to planning and zoning tonight.  

However, this reduction of footprint size and increase in setbacks must be done while protecting a core American value: property rights. Therefore we must be careful to not overly restrict what can be built in the future compared to what can be built now. Failing to do that will open the city up to a lawsuit. 

But there’s no need to take it from me. Please learn more to form a more complete view. 

One good way to learn more would be to participate in the meeting itself. You can find the information on how to do that here.

Next, please review the flyer linked here.

And please, don’t base your opinions on anonymous emails designed to outrage. Ironically, the proposed changes specifically address the flooding and home size complaints of those sending the emails. The status quo, which they are urging you to try to keep, is exactly the source of the issues the anonymous emails are complaining about. 

Please give it some deep thought. This is really important to the future of NBI, so it’s worth taking a few minutes to form a complete opinion. 

Please contact me with any questions beyond those answered above, at blatham@nbvillage.com or 786-390-6267. 

Mayor Brent Latham

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