One of Stock Island's largest landowners intends to keep commercial fishing part of a plan to redevelop a large portion of Safe Harbor, the owners said.

The Bernstein family and a group called the Island Trust Agreement are seeking Monroe County government approval to be able to redevelop their waterfront land into a 122-room hotel, a restaurant and other commercial retail uses, while still maintaining commercial fishing there.

In October, the group secured a recommendation of approval from the county Planning Commission, which led to concerns from fishermen about being pushed off the docks.

The Bernstein family and Island Trust Agreement have not submitted any specific details of their plans, but only wanted to start the development process so they would not be adversely affected by any future development laws that are more restrictive, they said. If the proposal earns Monroe County Commission approval at a Jan. 21 meeting in Key West, the two groups would have 10 years to submit and complete their plan.

The lack of details about the development have led to speculation and uneasiness among fishermen. The Bernstein family and the owners of Fishbusterz fish market want to ease those fears.

Read the full story at the Key West Citizen>

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