Advisory board approves Bayview Park master site plan despite calls for fuller plan and tree review

The Key West Parks & Recreation Advisory Board voted Nov. 17 to approve moving forward with the final master site plan for Bayview Park, advancing a phased redevelopment that staff said is tied to current budget allocations.

Supporters said the plan captures priority safety and recreation upgrades and can proceed through required reviews, while critics urged a more complete, programmatic master plan before committing funds. Board member Miss Jangra voted no in the roll call; Miss Ring, Ms. Roberts, Mister Russell and Chair Newlish voted yes, passing the motion.

City planner Keith told the board the project is designed as a phased approach tied to available funding and approvals. "We were allocated $2,289,000 so after all encumbered within that account ... after the baseball field is fully paid out, we'll have $2,346,462.59 available for what we're calling phase 2," he said, describing proposed items including a new restroom and pro shop building, tennis shade improvements, and a fitness amenity that could be supported by a $35,000 National Fitness Campaign award and a possible Firdap fifty‑fifty grant application.

Resident Nancy Klingener, who said she lives a block from Bayview Park, praised improvements but warned the plan should not turn the park into a venue for large events. "I'm a dog owner... but it looks kind of small from the schematic that I saw online," she said of the proposed dog park and also flagged parking congestion on Virginia Street and potential noise from amplified events.

Board member Jan Grama pushed staff for more complete programmatic detail and questioned whether the packet should be labeled a "master plan" when several phases remain undefined. "A master plan suggests that it's the entire plan. This is only phase 1 and phase 2," Grama said, asking for size specifications (for example, a 4,500‑square‑foot dog park with separate small‑dog and large‑dog areas) and a formal appendix of program requirements so the architect can produce bid‑ready documents.

Staff responded that the phased approach reflects practical budgeting and timing: some items are placeholders pending grant awards or future budgets, and the plan will still proceed through DRC, planning, HARC and TREE reviews. Keith said the proposed restroom/pro‑shop building vendor was approved by the City Commission and that planning submittal deadlines aim for DRC in January with permitting and bidding that could put construction activity in mid‑next year.

The board also heard discussion about tree impacts near a proposed splash pad. Grama asked whether a large mahogany tree could clog drains and complicate maintenance; staff said the plan will be subject to Tree Commission review and mitigation if removal is required.

The advisory board additionally passed an advisory motion urging the City Commission to direct the city manager to complete and publish a Bayview Park master plan with a public work plan, schedule and schematic‑level cost options and to provide periodic public updates.

The plan now moves through the required planning and historic review processes and is expected to return to advisory boards and commissions as permit drawings and grant outcomes are finalized.