Republican and Democratic primaries on the Aug. 28 ballot for District 4 seat; Republicans to square off for District 2 seat in primary, with Democrat facing the winner in November
The Siesta Key Condominium Council recently sent a questionnaire to the candidates for Sarasota County Commission in the 2018 election, seeking their views on four key issues in advance of the Aug. 28 Republican and Democratic primaries.
The Condo Council shared the responses with The Sarasota News Leader, in an effort to assist registered voters in making their choices in those primaries.
The Council’s membership includes about 90 associations on Siesta Key and approximately 7,000 condominium units, the Council points out. Its officers strive “to keep our membership informed and engaged on issues that are important to Siesta Key,” a news release notes.
County commissioners are elected at large, the release explains. Therefore, even though Siesta Key is in District 4 — and that seat is up for election this year — island residents also will be able to vote in the County Commission race this year for the District 2 seat.
In the Republican primary for District 4, incumbent Alan Maio of Nokomis is facing Siesta resident Lourdes Ramirez. In the Aug. 28 Democratic primary for that seat, Wesley Anne Beggs of Sarasota is facing Siesta resident Michael Cosentino.
In the District 2 race, voters will choose between Republicans Alexandra Coe and Christian Ziegler, both of Sarasota. Democrat Ruta Marie Jouniari of Sarasota also is campaigning for the District 2 seat.
The Condominium Council did not edit the responses, the news release emphasized. Therefore, the News Leaderalso did not edit them, even for punctuation.
The following are the District 4 candidates’ answers to the questions:
Question One
The County Commissioners in early 2018 authorized changes in the Siesta Key District that allowed for changes in setback and height restrictionsfor a specific property on Old Stickney Point Road. Actual construction plans are now subject to Commissioner Approval. What is your position re the setback and height issues that brought about the changes relative to actual plans for the site?
Wesley Anne Beggs: Although the plans are still subject to the commission’s review and approval, I was disappointed to see this decision go through. I think the Board’s vote opened the door for more projects on Siesta Key that do not suit the needs or wants of the community. To so many, myself included, reducing the setback only fuels local residents’ concerns about over-development in our area. The existing Siesta Key Overlay District zoning regulations have allowed the key to develop well and maintain some of their characteristic island charm.
Michael Cosentino: This is the common refrain of money, power, and greed versus the wishes of the vast majority. Years of hard work and public input led to the code provisions we had. A fundraiser, hosted by [Siesta Key architect] Mark Smith for incumbent Al Maio just days before the final vote, was all it took to change the rules we made to protect our quality of life.
As my time has been largely consumed fighting the County’s illegal Beach Road giveaway, I followed this issue through friends Lourdes Ramirez and SKA board member Joe Volpe. Lourdes sent me the documents she received through an open records request. I hired a local land planner to review the documents and provided his opinion on the matter to SKCC [Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce], SKA [Siesta Key Association], and others to help them understand the issues at hand. I spoke against this matter at the zoning Board of Appeals and at both County Commission meetings.
I personally know every business owner on the street and acknowledge their right to ask for these changes. I do not, however, feel the County followed their legal or moral obligations to the community by voting to change the code. Simply put this is illegal spot zoning.
Alan Maio: The question is not accurate. The change allowed for requests of changes and applied to all properties on Old Stickney Point Road, not just a specific one. Further, the Special Exception process requires a neighborhood workshop, a public hearing before the Planning Commission, and another public hearing before the County Commission before construction plans can even be started. As to my answer: The text amendment that was approved for all of Old Stickney Point Rd is to allow design flexibility and allow proposed buildings 35’-45’ to ask to be allowed to be closer to the street property line than the 25’ foot setback dictated in the zoning code. This will allow a pedestrian connection to shops and restaurants and not force the parking lot up the sidewalk. Buildings 85’ tall will still be setback at least 25’ or greater from the sidewalk.
Lourdes Ramirez: I believe the zoning text change that reduced setbacks for tall commercial buildings should have been denied. Our island has a unique zoning code that is already less restrictive than the mainland’s code. By reducing the setbacks for tall commercial buildings, high rise structures will overwhelm our narrow streets and can cause an increase in flooding as we see in the City of Sarasota. I was part of the large group of citizens opposing the change and it’s unfortunate the County Commission approved it.
Question Two
Other properties zoned commercial (including teardowns) may be considered by developers as candidates for the same “local treatment” as the Old Stickney Point property received from the Commissioners. What is your position re extension of setback and height codes for other Siesta Key commercially zoned properties?
Wesley Anne Beggs: I think it is essential that the Board of County Commissioners approach development on Siesta Key and our other barrier islands very carefully. We live in an era in which we know our sea level is rising and we are reaching a critical moment where we need to ask ourselves a very serious question: should we continue to build out these islands? It’s one thing to honor existing zoning and property rights, but can we afford to award exceptions that stress our infrastructure, harm our ecosystem, and jeopardize safety in severe weather?
Michael Cosentino: I assume you mean reduction of setback and increase of height codes, and I oppose both. Future Land Use Policy 1.1.2 of the Comprehensive Plan limits the density and intensity of use on the barrier islands to that which was allowed in the 1989 code. Under Florida Statute 163.3215 these and other changes could and should be legally challenged. At some point, we have to recognize that complaining doesn’t help — funding legal action does. We need to protect ourselves — the County clearly doesn’t care.
The best and easiest path forward is to fire Al Maio. Both Lourdes and I would appreciate the opportunity to continue our work to protect/enhance our islands laid-back lifestyle and charm.
Alan Maio: One of the goals of Siesta Key Overlay District (SKOD) was to allow and encourage shops and restaurants to be built close to the sidewalk so that parking would be in the rear of the property. Gidget’s Coastal Provisions and the Summer House Restaurant in Siesta Key Village are excellent examples. Both had their parking grandfathered in and both are built 2’ from the sidewalk, not 25’ back that was dictated in the zoning code before SKOD.
The height and square footage of any proposed building on Siesta Key is dictated by the amount of on-site and right-of-way parking available. A building cannot be built larger than the number of parking spaces it can fit on its property or on the street adjacent to it, which acts as a size restrictor.
Lourdes Ramirez: Siesta Key’s zoning should not be changed to further reduce setbacks for tall buildings. The reduction of setbacks for tall commercial buildings on Siesta Key should never have been approved.
Question Three
The City of Sarasota has been successful in obtaining State of Florida permission for the dredging of Big Pass in accordance with almost all of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers’ plans. Siesta Key property owners have fought this on multiple fronts because of concerns about potential damage to the iconic Siesta Key Beach. What is your position on this issue and what action would you recommend the Commission take on this issue?
Wesley Anne Beggs: Dredging and renourishing beaches is a short-term solution to a long-term problem. This is an expensive process and the sand will almost certainly be swept back out into the Gulf as we saw with the renourishment in 2015, but doing nothing puts homes and public infrastructure at risk. I would like to see a greater emphasis on preventative measures we can take like establishing more plant species that can help build up the dune area and stabilize erosion. Seagrass restoration projects protect the longevity of our beaches and increase shoreline resiliency to storms. I believe the county should be included in the conversation and disagree with [County Attorney] Stephen DeMarsh’s assessment of the Comprehensive Plan policy regarding dredging activity. Environmental Policy 4.6.1 does not distinguish between public and private endeavors, it simply states that all beach nourishment projects require approval by the Board.
Mike Cosentino: I’ve held rallies on Big Pass — “Sand Dollar Island” — to call attention to this worthy cause to protect the shoal that protects our island. I speak regularly with the “players” to keep myself informed. I love Lido Key — my mom grew up there — and want them to have sand from the New Pass shoal and the existing permits. I recommend the County, for a change, follow the Comprehensive Plan and it’s obligation to protect Siesta by legally challenging these permits.
Alan Maio: I have heartily supported the County paying for the peer review that brought up legitimate questions on the dredging. I pushed hard for an environmental impact statement that is much more detailed than what had been done, and we sent a comprehensive letter under my name as Chairman of the BOCC [Board of County Commissioners] to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers. We were roundly rejected, and they will not be doing an EIS, which absolutely should be done to understand what the impacts will be on Siesta Key.
Lourdes Ramirez: The state should have denied the permit. I believe the county should take an active role in handling renourishing Lido Key with sand from New Pass while protecting Big Pass from dredging. It is the county commission’s job to work with both communities to solve this issue. There are sand sources for Lido that does not involve Big Pass. I believe we can help Lido and protect Siesta Key.
Question Four
The development of the property on the corner of Stickney Point and U.S. 41, commonly called the Promenade is of grave concern to the property owners on Siesta Key, due to safety and traffic issues. The developer continues to push intensive development with little concern for the Siesta Key impact. What is your position on this property and what action, if any, would you recommend the Commission take on this issue?
Wesley Anne Beggs: I live very close to the Stickney Point/41 intersection and can personally attest to the dire traffic situation, especially in season. I am deeply concerned with the consequences this project could have on our traffic, safety, and quality of life. I look forward to attending the August 23rd neighborhood workshop where Benderson’s project manager will present the plan and listen to residents’ concerns. Siesta Promenade seems to contribute to our frustrations about over- development without addressing any of this community’s needs. Just north of this site another retail plaza is already under construction and the Landings plaza still has empty storefronts.
Mike Cosentino:I’ve spoken at and attended several public hearings regarding this matter and keep myself informed thru Sura Kochman about the opposition’s efforts.
Did you know that nearly all of the tens of millions of Siesta generated TDT [Tourist Development Tax] funds leave the island? It seems to me that if a specific user-group is taxed, those taxes should benefit that group. Why not redirect TDT funds and/or set a special taxing district and buy out Mr. Benderson?
Alternatively, in consideration of the traffic safety issues, Pine Shores neighborhood, etc., etc., I do not support any changes to the zoning laws Mr. Benderson was well aware of when he bought the property. I see no public benefit in making a bad thing worse. Am I the only one that finds it odd that there are no “Elect Al Maio” signs posted there?
Alan Maio: I cannot comment as this is quasi-judicial question before the County Commission.
Lourdes Ramirez: There is a pattern where developers buy land without doing due diligence under the assumption that the county will allow them to do anything on that property. That has to stop. The parcel is commercially zoned and can have a shopping center with a hotel at this time. The developer may prefer more hotel units, more apartments/condos and a larger shopping center but they are not guaranteed those extra uses or units. The role of our county commission is to ensure the existing neighborhoods are protected and that the infrastructure can handle the new development. I believe the developer can go forward with what is allowed on the property today without the proposed increase in density and intensity.
District 2 candidates
The following are the District 2 candidates’ responses:
Question One
The County Commissioners in early 2018 authorized changes in the Siesta Key District that allowed for changes in setback and height restrictions for a specific property on Old Stickney Point Road. Actual construction plans are now subject to Commissioner Approval. What is your position re the setback and height issues that brought about the changes relative to actual plans for the site?
Alexandra Coe: What the BCC [Board of County Commissioners] did was wrong. Increasing density on our barrier islands is not a good idea. Respecting the character and charm of Siesta Key is critical to maintaining quality of life for the residents and maintaining a good tourist economy. The Siesta Key Overlay District should not be violated.
Ruta Marie Jouniari: There should be no variance allowed on setback and height guidelines for the property on Old Stickney Point Rd. It already is heavily congested and would detract from the feel of Siesta key. No variances should be given, as it sets a dangerous precedence.
Christian Ziegler: Every project in Sarasota County must be reviewed and judged on its merit, which would include public hearings and a full review process.
With that said, I believe that any development on Siesta Key must maintain and protect the charm of the Siesta Key. I support policies and projects that maintain the unique characteristics of Siesta Key and take into consideration the Siesta Key overlay district, which was developed through a collaborative effort by the community.
Question Two
Other properties zoned commercial (including teardowns) may be considered by developers as candidates for the same “local treatment” as the Old Stickney Point property received from the Commissioners. What is your position re extension of setback and height codes for other Siesta Key commercially zoned properties?
Alexandra Coe: I am against it. The Siesta Key Overlay District should not be violated. We certainly see by this example why developers invest in County Commissioners. The $100,000 a developer puts in a PAC for their candidates has a pretty good return on investment. This vote was shameful. At the very least, the proposal for the hotel Mr. Kompothecras wants to build should have been presented to the citizens before the zoning change was considered. This is yet another slap in the face of the people.
Ruta Marie Jouniari: No variances should be allowed. As it will set up precedence as stated above.
Christian Ziegler: Every project in Sarasota County must be reviewed and judged on its merit, which would include public hearings and a full review process.
With that said, I believe that any development on Siesta Key must maintain and protect the charm of the Siesta Key. I support policies and projects that maintain the unique characteristics of Siesta Key and takes into consideration the Siesta Key overlay district, which was developed through a collaborative effort by the community.
Question Three
The City of Sarasota has been successful in obtaining State of Florida permission for the dredging of Big Pass in accordance with almost all of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers’ plans. Siesta Key property owners have fought this on multiple fronts because of concerns about potential damage to the iconic Siesta Key Beach. What is your position on this issue and what action would you recommend the Commission take on this issue?
Alexandra Coe: Just dredging big pass is not the solution. We need to look at the overall issues with Sarasota Bay. The navigation in the bay has become hazardous and I personally think that if we look to improve the navigation of the bay, that might present to us a new way to address the moving sand. Barrier islands are always shifting and subjected to the effects of storms. Protecting our beaches is equally important everywhere. We need to look at our ocean resources more holistically.
Ruta Marie Jouniari: The county should NOT allow the dredging of Big Pass. Lido key has had sand fills before and they didn’t work. There is no need to dredge Big Pass. Commissioners need to hire consultants to find solutions that are efficient and long term for Lido. The ecosystem on Siesta is fragile and needs to be protected.
Christian Ziegler: Siesta Key is a crown jewel of Sarasota County. It draws tourists throughout the year and is one of the greatest amenities helping the recruitment of new residents to Sarasota County, and it must be protected.
I recently met with Michael Holderness and Catherine Luckner, both of whom are leaders on this issue, and as a member of the Sarasota County Commission, I look forward to working with both of them to protect Siesta Key.
Question Four
The development of the property on the corner of Stickney Point and U.S. 41, commonly called the Promenade is of grave concern to the property owners on Siesta Key, due to safety and traffic issues. The developer continues to push intensive development with little concern for the Siesta Key impact. What is your position on this property and what action, if any, would you recommend the Commission take on this issue?
Alexandra Coe: That property came with certain development rights. To grant an increase in density is not the responsibility of government. To increase a developer’s rights and property value is not the role of government. To respect the county’s own code of ordinances is the responsibility of government. The intersection at Stickney Point and 41 is already over congested. The priority of growth is to promote development that enhances the area, not putting more money in the pockets of developers. Benderson Development has the right to build what that land was originally zoned for, unless even that zoning will negatively impact the safety and well-being of the community. Development funded candidates will rubber stamp this, I will do what is right for the community.
Ruta Marie Jouniari: As stated, I am against allowing the building of the Promenade hotel and condos. The traffic is dismal at best and would change the culture and ambience of Siesta Key. We need to all vote for commissioners who will listen to the constituents living in the area. And not bend to developers and builders who line their pockets during election season.
Christian Ziegler: The Stickney Point & U.S. 41 intersection is one of the busiest and most vital intersections in the county.
My understanding is that there is a desire to increase the intensity of the referenced property past what is currently entitled there. When this occurs, it is up to the Commission to be skeptical and heavily scrutinize as to why the changes are needed and the benefits they bring to the community.
Currently, this property is shown as commercial on our future land use map and a great concern of mine would be the effect on the very large and established adjacent single-family neighborhood.