Madeira Beach commissioners on May 27 unanimously awarded a $209,850 contract to Speeler Companies to replace the seawall at the city marina and build a new one at Tom and Kitty Stuart Park.
The commission also began reviewing a separate proposal for a six-story hotel at John’s Pass Village.
The 5-0 vote continues a long-running effort to protect the marina basin from erosion. The new work extends the seawall from the fuel dock to the cell tower.
“This is basically just a continuation of our seawall project at the marina, going from where the fuel dock’s located all the way down to where the cell tower is,” Marina Manager Brian Crabtree said.
The project will also close an old boat ramp the city hasn’t used in years. Sealing and leveling it frees up space for parking and a filtered wash-down area that keeps runoff out of the water, Crabtree said.
“We can turn that into a wash down area that is more filtered and doesn’t have as much runoff into the water,” he said. “And then the additional space gained will turn into vehicle parking.”
At Tom and Kitty Stuart Park, the city chose a concrete block seawall over a vinyl one, pointing to how the same design held up at Archibald Park during Hurricane Helene.
“After Hurricane Helene, the seawall at Archibald Park held up except for the cap,” Public Works Director Megan Wepfer said. “So we have changed out the cap at Archibald and made that more of like a domed concrete doweled in with rebar. And that is what we would like to proceed with at Tom and Kitty Stuart.”
Commissioners also asked about elevations near a planned restroom to keep the site accessible. Staff said a sidewalk and walkway in the final layout will let visitors reach the beach.
Speeler can begin work within two weeks and aims to finish the park improvements before the Fourth of July.
Hotel proposal advances
Commissioners reviewed a proposal from JPV Hotel Properties LLC to rezone 1.457 acres in the John’s Pass Village Activity Center for the project. The 87-room hotel would include a first-floor restaurant and cafe, a sixth-floor restaurant and a small event space.
The developer is seeking variances that include a building height of 73 feet above the design flood elevation and five stories of habitable space over 7,550 square feet of ground-floor retail.
Under a development agreement, the developer would pay for the public infrastructure work and build a 267-space garage, with 92 spaces set aside for the public at a capped hourly rate.
Some merchants raised concerns about disruptions during the estimated two-year construction.
Sue Zirneskie, who has owned Walt’z Fish Shack in the district for 22 years, questioned how a partial closure of Fisherman’s Alley and the relocation of county utility lines would affect small businesses.
“What we’re worried about is the closure of Fisherman’s Alley and having a six-story building next to us and the huge impact of just relocating the utilities,” she said. “My whole thing is I’m really worried because it’s not laid out how this will impact us from business interruption.”
Brian Aungst Jr., representing JPV Hotel Properties, said the work would not interrupt service to nearby businesses.
“No one’s water will ever be shut off, no one’s electric will ever be shut off unless there’s a power outage for everybody,” he said.
The seawall contract is final. The hotel’s planned development ordinances still need first readings and public hearings, which will be set for a future commission meeting.