Rezoning case in Mafolie area

The fact that the law dictates one cannot build in a gut should have been perfectly clear and adhered to the first time this came before them.

There is no parking for this except on the road, no place to put parking due to terrain, it's unsightely and the first good hurricane will put the trailer in the gut not to mention that the owner has not yet followed thru on his responsibilities.
This is not the right place for this business.
Senators need to stop this spot rezoning BS.
It is ruining our islands and neighbourhoods.

And I am VERY disappointed that Senator O'Reilly, who I have always voted for and have always respected, suggested that "race played a role in the opposition to the project."

From the source article referenced in the OP
"I wonder if Mr. Warrell was a multimillionaire, if the question about whether or not he can afford to build this lookout, and — and all of the other amenities that he desires to build, whether we would be questioning that in the manner in which we are tonight," Rivera-O'Reilly said.

"If he came in here with a checkbook that he could write $10 million and just go build it and create lots of jobs, you probably wouldn't have all of the opposition you have. Then again perhaps if the color of your skin was different we wouldn't have the opposition you have. And that's the reality. It may make us feel uncomfortable. But to a great extent, what I see displayed here and what I saw displayed in the hearings before, tells that story," she said.

Believe me, I was too.

I drive by this location all the time.
It's basically a shipping container, perched on the edge at the top of a steep ravine/gut.
It's an eyesore from surrounding properties.
It's on a corner and there's little to no parking.
This never should have been permitted.
People don't give a hoot if he was a multi millionaire.
It's not an appropriate place for this business.

if you are actually disappointed or shocked that such sentiment was expressed by Nellie then I don't think you've been paying close enough attention...

and while we so desperately need a comprehensive land and water use plan we will never see it as that would disrupt the power and influence senators wield when allowing spot zoning pet projects etc...

Perhaps they could do a land swap.
Trade the parcel in Mafolie for a lot adjacent to the home of Senator O'Reilly.
See how fast it gets shot down then!

(tu)

The fact that the law dictates one cannot build in a gut should have been perfectly clear and adhered to the first time this came before them.

You can't? I've seen it done on STX.