20160805-5 Aug 2016

An increase in the amount of sand to be dredged from Big Pass for Lido Key renourishment cited in latest documents submitted to FDEP

Response to state’s last request for information also explains need to use part of Sperling Park for a staging area and provides details of seagrass mitigation plan in Manatee County

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has increased the amount of sand it and the City of Sarasota propose to dredge from Big Sarasota Pass to renourish south Lido Key, its consultant informed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) early this week. (Read more »)


FDOT staff warns about density of proposed Siesta Promenade project at U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road

County staff says it cannot stop the development, based on traffic concerns, but it may be able to reduce the intensity of it

One day before Benderson Development submitted its latest application to Sarasota County regarding its proposed Siesta Promenade project at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road, a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) engineer sent a letter to Sarasota County’s transportation planning manager, pointing to the “astonishing 175 percent total increase” in crashes at that intersection between 2010 and 2014. (Read more »)


Woman’s Exchange files suit against the City of Sarasota and Laurel Park Association over denial of building permit for expansion

Petition argues that the 3-2 City Commission decision was not based on fact but was politically motivated

As its attorney had indicated to the Sarasota City Commission in June, the Woman’s Exchange has filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court, seeking to overturn the board’s denial of a permit that would have allowed the nonprofit organization to build an expansion on Rawls Avenue. (Read more »)


Pinecraft hotel plan wins Planning Commission approval on split vote

Members question whether the four-story structure — standing 57 feet tall — will be compatible in the community of mostly single and two-story buildings

On a 5-3 vote, the Sarasota County Planning Commission has approved a plan for a 103-room, four-story hotel on the Dutchman Hospitality Group property in Sarasota’s Pinecraft community. However, the action came after multiple questions about the proposed 57-foot height of the structure, which one board member pointed out is double the number of stories of most buildings in the Amish and Mennonite area. (Read more »)


City and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have not complied with federal law in facets of their plan to renourish Lido Key, attorney argues

Coastal protection measures and water quality requirements documented in letters sent on behalf of the Florida Wildlife Federation and SOSS2; organizations continue to push for Environmental Impact Statement

The Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) produced last year in support of the proposed Lido Renourishment Project erroneously interpreted the Coastal Barrier Resource Act (CBRA) of 1982 and the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act (CBIA) of 1990, an attorney representing the Florida Wildlife Federation (FWF) and Save Our Siesta Sand 2 (SOSS2) has notified the USACE, The Sarasota News Leader has learned. (Read more »)


SKVA members debate how to deal with homeless people in Siesta Village, especially those sleeping in the gazebo

Multiple anecdotes offered, but no resolution reached

A sight that caught Siesta Key resident Michael Shay’s eye twice on the morning of Aug. 2 has underscored a problem that has become more obvious on the barrier island in the past couple of months: homelessness. (Read more »)


Siesta Seen

Sheriff’s Office looks into complaints about Beach Access 2 parking at sunset; the pursuit of trolley service continues, with new avenues to be explored; Light Up the Village planning begins; and the new Sheriff’s Office lieutenant supervising the Key introduces himself to the SKVA

A Beach Road resident recently vented in an email to the Sarasota County commissioners about what she described as “problems [that] have exacerbated to the point of anarchy.” The problems to which she alluded revolve around traffic at the intersection of Avenida Messina and Beach Road. (Read more »)


Gulf Gate Library named the most beautiful library in Florida

Publication bestows honors on 50 facilities in the U.S.

Tech Insider has named Gulf Gate Library the most beautiful library in the state of Florida. Sarasota County Administrator Tom Harmer notified the county commissioners of the recognition in an Aug. 1 email. (Read more »)


County’s Master Gardeners to host 11th Annual Plant Sale

Event set for Oct. 8 at Twin Lakes Park

Sarasota County Master Gardeners will hold their 11th Annual Plant Sale on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Twin Lakes Park, the organization has announced. (Read more »)


County to host third meeting on proposed changes to mowing on residential streets

Session to be held Aug. 9 in Nokomis

With Sarasota County staff proposing changes to the level of service for mowing in residential areas within the unincorporated areas of the county, staff will host a third public workshop at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at the Nokomis Community Center. (Read more »)


Sarasota County earns national procurement award for second year

Accolade comes from national institute

For the second consecutive year, Sarasota County’s Procurement department has been honored for “Achievement of Excellence in Procurement” by the National Procurement Institute (NPI), the county has announced. (Read more »)


Kates Foundation grant to Forty Carrots to benefit teen parents

$10,000 award to support programs at Riverview and North Port high schools

The Kates Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to Forty Carrots Family Center in support of the nonprofit’s programs providing parenting education and mental health services to teen parents and their children at Riverview High School in Sarasota and North Port High School, Forty Carrots has announced. (Read more »)