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SiestaKeyFitness.com APRIL 2023| 941.312.0665 | 27TH STATE MEDIA LLC | www.SiestaSand.us | COMPLIMENTARY
1-year delay requested for sand haul
Hotel trials likely to combine, begin Oct.
By John Morton
By John Morton Consolidation it is, at least schedule-wise -leaning toward probably but with a bit of maybe. The two separate lawsuits fighting Sarasota County’s approval of two high-density hotels in 2021, with a third approved in 2022, will possibly combine into one trial beginning Oct. 9 in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court. Three weeks have been set aside on the court’s calendar for the proceedings. Judge Stephen Walker, who resides over both matters, made that determination March 17 with the blessing of lawyers for the two plaintiffs, the county’s legal team, and the lawyers for the developers and site owners. The cases “have many of the same legal issues, same factual issues,” said David Smolker, the attorney for the group suing the county for the approval of both the eight-story, 170-room Calle Miramar hotel near the Village and the seven-story, 120-room Old Stickney Point Road hotel near the south bridge. That latter project includes a five-story parking garage across the street. The plaintiffs are resident Robert Sax and the Marina Del Sol condo (near the south-bridge project) and the owners at the 222 Beach Road complex (near the Village project). That case was set for trial on June 12, but Smolker asked for a delay due to other commitments and calendar conflicts that have lessened his ability to prepare his case. Walker also noted that his calendar, if June 12
The power of that bongo beat Despite some red tide still being present, the usual Sunday night crowd on March 12 gathered on a perfect evening for the Siesta Key drum circle. It begins each week at sunset. (photo by David Geyer)
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What should be Midnight Pass plan? With support now reaching the state level, county needs to decide on method of restoration By John Morton Shovels or pipes? Now that Sarasota County commissioners are gearing up toward a commitment to improving water quality in Little Sarasota Bay, and well aware that the closing of Midnight Pass at the hands of their predecessors in the early 1980s is related to the issue, the question of how to restore the natural flow that once occurred between Siesta Key and Casey Key is front and center. The county has asked for a $1 million commitment toward the process from Florida lawmakers, who are in session in Tallahassee
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• Village Map/business listings PAGES 24, 25 • Crescent Beach Map/ business listings PAGE 28 ----------------• Music Calendar PAGE 32 •Gulf Gate Shops PAGE 39 ----------------• Accommodations Map PAGE 47
The crunch of time slipping away finally forced the hand of Sarasota County regarding its plans to provide sand renourishment to Turtle Beach, and on March 7 at the county commission meeting its representatives announced it would seek a year extension until April 30 of 2024. Many factors played into the decision. The county is at the mercy of what it hopes is the approval of FEMA for the delay, which last fall suddenly and unexpectantly gave the county a June 30 deadline to complete the project, after noting it was the last entity in the nation to have yet to use FEMA grant funds (roughly $4 million in this case) to replace sand that was washed away during 2016’s Hurricane Hermine. Basically, FEMA wanted to clear its books on the matter. Originally, the county believed it had as long as 2026 to complete the work on what is calling the South Siesta Beach Repair
right now with state Sen. Joe Gruters and state Rep. Greg Steube leading the way. Locally, Sarasota County is pledging $1.6 million toward planning and permitting toward whatever gameplan is set in motion. Clearing up the bay is one of the commissioners’ priorities for 2023, and new board members Mark Smith and Joe Neunder have been very vocal in support of the restoration of Continued on page 34
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From the big top to the big scoop
Details on local Easter services
‘Yogi’s’ unite at Incorporation the subject of viewpoint Turtle Beach
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