Ocean Ridge: Commercial strip granted an extra year

[Deborah Hartz-Seeley]

Businesses at 5011 N. Ocean Blvd. can stay at least until June 2014.

Town commissioners decided to grant building owners Orlando and Liliane Sivitilli one extra year before they must move their tenants and convert the building to townhomes. The Sivitillis had asked for a three-year extension. “We should not be continuously extending this agreement,” Commissioner Zoanne Hennigan said.

Commissioners also sent the issue of whether the town should abandon its 1969 ban on commercial properties to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Sivitillis sued to block the town from enforcing its ban and signed an agreement in 2003 that they would convert the building to residences in 10 years. But they asked for the extension because of the bad real estate market.

Their five business tenants include Commissioner Gail Adams Aaskov’s real estate office and The Coastal Star. Four apartments are on the second floor.

— Steve Plunkett