TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — More drama at the Treasure Island commission meeting Tuesday night when commissioner Arthur Czyszczon left citing a family emergency right before the commission planned to vote on a controversial development proposal. If approved, it would’ve paved the way for redeveloping many of the beachfront resorts and make them larger with more rooms, like the Thunderbird Beach Resort, which has been closed since Hurricane Helene. The owners support planned development because it would make it easier to build back bigger. While the vote suddenly got postponed, much of the rest of the meeting was also contentious.
A debate over a non-binding voter referendum on maximum height and density got testy when Vice-Mayor Tammy Vasquez said it’s preempted by state law and the city needs to move fast to rebuild beachfront hotels still closed from hurricanes.
“We live in a beautiful place that has amazing beaches and a disgusting city,” she said…