Key West HARC Agenda Stacked With Postponements, Staff Seeks Delay on Rainbow Picket Rule Changes
Multiple projects already slated for deferral as board prepares to take up major housing proposal and Duval Street work.
A backlog of postponements and a key staff-recommended delay on proposed code changes are set to define Tuesday’s meeting of Key West’s Historic Architectural Review Commission, signaling a slower pace for both development approvals and policy decisions in the city’s historic districts.
The March 24 agenda includes at least three items already scheduled for postponement before the meeting begins, including two related applications at 309 William St. — a proposed new two-story home and a separate demolition request — both seeking indefinite deferrals.
A third item, a proposed storefront awning at 1114 Duval St., has been requested by the applicant to be continued to April 28.
The clustering of postponements reflects a continuing trend at HARC, where projects are frequently delayed due to design revisions, incomplete applications or ongoing negotiations with staff, often pushing decisions weeks or months down the calendar.
In addition to project delays, city planning staff are recommending that commissioners postpone amendments to the city’s Historic Architectural Guidelines, including provisions tied to so-called “rainbow pickets,” a debated issue involving decorative fence treatments within historic districts.
The staff-requested postponement indicates the proposed changes are not yet ready for board action and will require additional review before returning to HARC for consideration.
While several items are being deferred, the commission is still expected to take up a full slate of new business, including a major affordable housing proposal at 241 Trumbo Road. The project, submitted by Smith Hawks, PL, calls for 150 units and includes both a development plan and demolition of five non-contributing structures.
Other items include proposed improvements at Bayview Park, including demolition of existing non-historic structures and construction of new shade facilities for tennis courts, as well as multiple fence, gate and after-the-fact renovation applications across the city.
Also on the agenda is a minor development plan for an addition at the Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea on Windsor Lane and a new bathroom structure for a Duval Street bar property at 1400 Duval St.
The meeting will also include the selection of a vice chair and routine administrative reports.
HARC, which oversees exterior changes within Key West’s historic districts, plays a central role in balancing preservation standards with ongoing development pressures. Tuesday’s agenda underscores both the volume of projects moving through the pipeline and the growing reliance on postponements to manage that workload.
The meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. tomorrow at City Hall and will be live streamed on the City’s website.