Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Charter captains raise concerns about dock access; Sarasota Co. leaders postpone discussion of ordinance change

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/art...277e6864&ei=52

Several local captains and fishing guides spent the day off the water to voice their concerns about possible changes to a county code relating to commercial activity at public parks.

For years, charter captains say they’ve picked up and dropped off customers at waterfront parks, such as Nora Patterson Park just off Siesta Key. Up until about a year ago, they never had any issues doing it.

County officials say conducting business at a county park without a permit has been prohibited for a long time. That’s why staff proposed updating language in the code to clarify the restrictions.

Commissioners heard testimony from numerous business owners Tuesday and ultimately decided to table the discussion until after the first of the year. The county administrator will come back before the board with a list of options including a possible task force to address the issue. At that time, the board will give direction on how to move forward.

In the meantime, enforcement will be limited to warnings and voluntary compliance until any official changes are made to the language of the ordinance.

Whose parking space is it anyway at Sarasota County public boat ramps?

With limited parking at Sarasota County parks' public boat ramps, commercial charters come under scrutiny from the County Commission.

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...ic-boat-ramps/

Increasing pressure on parking at Sarasota County parks as more users move to the area has prompted the county’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department to suggest enhanced enforcement of an existing policy that would restrict charter operations in county parks.

The pandemic-fueled population explosion brought a flood of newcomers, many of whom purchased boats that must be trailered to public ramps at Sarasota County parks that have limited parking for boaters and other park users.

And with yearslong waiting lists at the handful of marinas that dot the county’s coastline, the growth in charter operators to meet growing demand means that many are conducting business as usual — picking up and dropping off clients at the county park boat ramps in violation of county policy that prohibits such commercial operations in public parks.

The problem is many, if not most of them, couldn't comply if they wanted to.

[wondermint2]

Florida's ban on moratoriums leaves Naples, North Port development restrictions in limbo

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...bo/ar-AA1jDMov

The state will consider plans to step in and stop municipalities affected by Hurricane Ian from imposing moratoriums or other "burdensome" policies on development as residents rebuild.

Florida lawmakers approved a temporary ban this spring on development moratoriums or other restrictive policies by municipal governments within 100 miles of Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole. The law applies to any development code changes after Sept. 28, 2022, the day Ian made landfall.

Legislators are now considering an extension to the law, which is set to expire on Oct. 1, 2024, as a part of larger disaster relief bills under consideration during the ongoing special session. The measures provide relief and support for the agricultural industry and others in Florida's Big Bend region.

The provision extends the ban on moratoriums and "burdensome" development policies in counties affected by Hurricane Ian — such as Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Lee, Manatee, and Sarasota counties. The bill also removes provisions that applied to counties affected by Hurricane Nicole.

The extension to the ban on development moratoriums would continue to affect Naples and other area municipalities, like the city of North Port where development restrictions are in the works.

[wondermint2]

Here's the Sarasota news you might have missed this summer

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...d-this-summer/

Sarasota's traffic may have eased up (slightly) in the offseason, but the news certainly didn’t slow down. Major developments have been afoot underfoot while you, our snowbird friends, were in cooler climes.

Nowadays, even May through October, Sarasota keeps humming along, so we don’t want you to feel left out when the conversation turns to local happenings. That’s why we’ve put together this rundown of some of the top stories you may have missed while you were elsewhere.

[wondermint2]

New College of Florida asks state for almost half a billion dollars over next five years

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/care...0arts%20school.

New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran presented a business plan to Florida's university system Board of Governors on Wednesday that asks for almost half a billion dollars from the state over the next five years — a figure largely unseen by the small Sarasota liberal arts school.

The college said it needs a "minimum" of $400 million over that span to achieve the goal it set forward to the Florida Legislature of becoming "a world-class classical liberal arts educational institution," according to the plan. Corcoran's business plan for New College has previously been criticized for not being financially viable, according to business experts from the University of Florida.

Any funding would still need to be approved by the Florida Legislature and the governor. If realized, the funding would be far more than the small college has received in such a short period. The smallest school in terms of enrollment in the Florida university system has typically struggled to get even a fraction of that sum, given the many larger campuses with thousands of students and influential alumni in the Legislature and in university leadership positions.

[wondermint2]

‘Haven for Harvard refugees’: Free tuition offered to Harvard students who want to transfer to New College of Florida

For full article:

https://www.wfla.com/news/sarasota-c...ge-of-florida/

New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran has declared the liberal arts school a “haven for Harvard refugees,” and is offering free tuition to students “facing intolerance or physical danger” at the Ivy League school.

The announcement follows a raft of reported antisemitic incidents on college campuses, including Harvard, amid unrest over the Israel-Hamas war.

[wondermint2]

Annoyance not enough to change look of Manatee County Commission in 2024

District-only voting, a lack of competition and deep pockets are factors that will make it tough on those vowing to oust current commissioners during the 2024 election year.

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...ty-commission/

As angry citizens left the Manatee County Administration building Oct. 5, they vowed to make commissioners pay for reducing wetlands protections that had been put into place and protected by previous commissions.

They promised to vote in new county commissioners as four spots are up for grabs in 2024 at the voting booth.

As Manatee County heads into the 2024 election year, however, those citizens might find that will be a tough promise to keep.

[wondermint2]

Bridge Street hotel prompts public opposition

For full article:

https://www.amisun.com/2023/11/07/br...ic-opposition/

A long-awaited public hearing by the Planning and Zoning Board on a proposed 106-room hotel at the intersection of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive South brought an overflow crowd to city hall, many of whom were opposed to the hotel project.

At the Nov. 1 meeting, WMFR Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski ensured the room’s 51-person capacity was adhered to. Audio of the meeting was streamed outside for those who were not allowed to enter due to over-capacity.

The Land Development Code application for the yet-unnamed Bridge Street hotel project includes the hotel, a 60-seat restaurant, 2,485 square feet of retail and 99 on-site parking spaces. Property owners Shawn Kaleta, a local developer, and Jacob Spooner, business owner and Bradenton Beach city commissioner, made the application on Dec. 2, 2022.

[wondermint2]

City won't make exceptions to vacation rental policy for Lido Key houses

The Sarasota City Commission's ordinance to expand the vacation rental restrictions citywide could resolve possible lawsuits and balance costs.

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...y-lido-houses/

Sometime in early 2024, the Sarasota City Commission will consider and — from all indications — approve an ordinance that will expand citywide the vacation rental ordinance that currently applies only to about 135 properties on the barrier islands.

When it does, the approval will affect two related matters that came before commissioners on Monday: 1) An effective doubling of fees associated with the registration and monitoring of short-term rental properties doing business in residential neighborhoods; and 2) Potential litigation brought by the owners of three “hotel houses” on Lido Key.

By a 4-1 vote on second reading with Commissioner Erik Arroyo opposed, commissioners approved increasing fees on vacation rental operators on average from $150 per year to $350 in an attempt to close the gap of the cost of city personnel dedicated to registering, inspecting and monitoring the properties and the regulatory fees they generate.

Once the ordinance goes citywide, the scaling of revenues will hopefully offset if not exceed those costs.

[wondermint2]

Legacy Trail advocates anticipate connecting the path with the Florida Gulf Coast Trail

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/new...il/ar-AA1jDMop

The Legacy Trail continues to grow, in size and in popularity, with construction on overpasses across Bee Ridge Road and Clark Road scheduled to start later this year.

In the last 12 months, more than 660,000 bikers, joggers and rollerbladers have spent time on the trail, which stretches mainly along former railway corridors from downtown Sarasota to Venice.

And, if supporters can help pull it off, the trail could eventually be linked to the Florida Gulf Coast Trail, with routes that would connect Tampa to Naples.

[wondermint2]

Rash Of Car Burglaries Reported In Venice: Police

For full article:

https://patch.com/florida/sarasota/a...-venice-police

A rash of car burglaries in the Capri Isles and Edmundson neighborhoods are under investigation in Venice, authorities said.

Two of the burglaries happened Monday between 10 and 11 p.m. on Strada D Oro and Strada Dargento, the Venice Police Department wrote in a Facebook post.

The vehicles burglarized were unlocked, police said. “Please secure your vehicles and valuables.”

Anyone who lives in these areas and potentially has video of suspicious people or activities or other information to share is asked to please call the VPD at 941-486-2444.