SRIA To OK New High Rise

Lynette Wilson, a PNJ reporter newly assigned to the beach, is reporting that the Santa Rosa Island Authority's development committee will be recommending approval of a high rise hotel to replace the Clarion Suites Resort. The SRIA board meets to consider the proposal tonight, starting at 5:30 p.m.

A relatively new web site, Pensacola Beach Preservation and Historical Society, is calling for opponents to speak out against the proposal. It's been urging opponents to call or email SRIA board members and signing a petition that's been circulating on the net. Today, the web site says:

There will be a hearing for rezoning the Clarion to high density on November 9th at 5:30 at the SRIA, according to the sign at the Clarion property on the beach. We need to amass people to attend to let the SRIA know how serious we are about not allowing development run amuck. This is it folks. We can't let up now. We need many people to be there and let the SRIA know how serious we are about keeping our beach a small family oriented community and vacation destination.

Another locally-oriented blog, No More High Rises, has an easy-to-sign computer petition against the proposed rezoning.