02/08/06 Wharf owner nearly fed up After nearly four years of fighting and about $1.3 million in lost revenue and legal fees, Venice Fisherman's Wharf owner John Konecnik said Tuesday he's about had it. If Sarasota County rejects his floating dock, Konecnik will sell the entire parcel of land next to Hatchett Creek Bridge to the first buyer who offers enough money. It's unclear who that buyer could be, but one thing's for certain -- it will never be Sarasota County. There has been a persistent rumor, which county staff has denied, that Sarasota County wants to buy Fisherman's Wharf and turn it into a public marina and park. Konecnik said he wouldn't sell it to the county even if it made an offer, especially after all his legal wrangling and hold-ups gaining county commissioner approval. "Government has screwed this up from the start," Konecnik said. "I'll sell it to a developer with the money to fight it, first. ... "It's been fun, but the fun's about run out. I've got some other things I want to do before kicking the bucket." 'No minds have changed' The Wharf owner has been attempting to persuade the county to grant him the 686 feet he originally asked for, instead of the 400 feet commissioners approved in June 2004. In the meantime, what he had approval for isn't finished and Sarasota County recently denied a fourth extension to Konecnik's construction permits. That puts Konecnik's controversial floating dock project back at square one. Howard Berna, Sarasota County environmental supervisor of resource protection, said Fisherman's Wharf must cease all dock work, reapply for a permit and start all over. Konecnik is attempting to reverse the extension denial, but as of Tuesday, no information has been submitted, said County Administrator Jim Ley. Ley also said Sarasota County has no interest in purchasing Fisherman's Wharf. "A representative for Mr. Konecnik has indicated a desire to submit additional information in support of extension of the permit," Ley said. "He has not done so as yet, and therefore no minds have been changed. Another of his representatives has expressed his desire to extend the dock. This would in effect be starting over and a 'new' permit." 'A shame' Starting over has the potential to get what Konecnik wants -- 686 feet of dock -- or nothing at all -- no dock approval of any kind. Konecnik has been granted approval for the entire dock by all other regulatory agencies. Any decision that brings in less than the 686 feet Konecnik wants will lead him to sell to a big-name developer. Konecnik has always envisioned wide waterfront walkways; a 686-foot floating dock with almost half of it reserved for transient boaters; a restaurant; and various small stores. The wharf owner said this would guarantee public access to the water in a time when condominium projects are buying up all waterfront areas. And to pay for this $60 million redevelopment project, Konecnik wants a private developer to build a nine-story, 58-unit condominium similar in height and size to the Waterfront on Venice Island towers just on the other side of Hatchett Creek Bridge. Take away the docks, he says, and there's no reason to keep fighting. He'll finally sell out to the highest bidder and let the entire patch of land go private. Konecnik plans on passing out flyers to his neighbors that detail his version of the project's history. At the end of the three pages, he asks people to choose between a marina project or condominiums and then provides county commissioner e-mail addresses. "This is it," Konecnik said. "If we don't get the majority of docks we agreed with (Gov. Jeb) Bush and the (state) cabinet, we're done. ... We've been trying to save this for the public since 1998. It'd be a shame to leave it." You can e-mail J.J. Andrews at: jandrews@venicegondolier.com.