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Sarasota News Leader January 11, 2013 Page 34 THE REQUESTS Both houses would have pools and decks, as well as a retaining wall about 1 foot tall During his presentation, Berna said the Al- around the pool deck, Berna noted. lens proposed building a 7,429-square-foot house on the 162 Beach Road parcel and a Referring to the lots, he added, "This area has been known to flood. … These properties are 7,679-square-foot house at 168 Beach Road. relatively low elevation." Both properties, he pointed out, are completely seaward of the county's Gulf Beach Setback Using aerial photographs, Berna proceeded to show the commissioners views of the properLine, and both consist entirely of dune habity from 1948 to the present. "It is a very intertat. Some Australian pine trees — considered esting area because it has changed very draan invasive species — are on the lots, Berna matically," he added. added, but the tallest ones are just waist high. Some of the photos showed the property unThe foundation for the house at 162 Beach derwater. As recent as 2009, the vegetation Road would have a footprint of 1,428 square that had grown up on the property had refeet, he pointed out, but because of the treated, he pointed out. However, by 2012, the planned cantilevered design for the upper dune area had regenerated, he said. floors — with balconies — the upper two floors would have 2,300 square feet each. That In 1992, Berna pointed out, the County Commission received a variance request for a sinhouse would have 45 feet of frontage on the gle-family home on the combined lots; it deGulf of Mexico side of the property, he added. nied the request in 1993. The lot at 168 Beach Road is slightly larger, MERRILL'S PRESENTATION though it has only 40 feet on the Gulf side, Berna said. Its ground-level footprint would "Without this variance, there is no econombe 1,645 feet. The upper levels of that house ically viable or reasonable use available on either one of the lots," Merrill, the Allens' atwould have 2,069 feet each. A county aerial map shows the area of the two Beach Road parcels (one outlined in blue) in 1948. Image courtesy Sarasota County A county aerial map shows the area of the two Beach Road parcels in 2007. Image courtesy Sarasota County