Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/104211
Sarasota News Leader January 18, 2013 Page 89 Siesta Seen EAT HERE; PARK WHERE?? Polk added that Burns met with Matt WoodEntrepreneur Sean Murphy's new Eat Here bury of the restaurant on Jan. 7 to talk about restaurant had not been open long in Siesta the sign. Village when it prompted an email from Coun- "Mr. Woodbury and Mr. Burns had a producty Commissioner Joe Barbetta to county zon- tive conversation and the violation concerning and planning staff members. ing the sign was pointed out," Polk continued. Attaching a photo he had taken the previous "Mr. Woodbury explained that the business evening, Barbetta asked on Jan. 5, "Can this had just opened 4 days prior and that some operational issues were still being resolved possibly be legal?" and addressed. The photo shows a sign with the name of the restaurant and "Valet Parking" on it, but it has "Since Mr. Woodbury was very cooperative a sheet of paper over part of the writing that and the business has been operating for less than a week, Code Enforcement left the sitsays the following: uation with a warning. Staff will continue to "eat here follow up by monitoring this situation to ensure the sign remains removed," Polk added. parking only towing begins at A subsequent email from Polk pointed out that Brad Bailey, the county's zoning administrator, "has determined the 'Eat Here' restaurant 4:00" Barbetta added in his email, "This is a public street and the County owns the municipal lot at the end [of Avenida Madera]. I find it hard to believe that this can be allowed to happen." On Jan. 7, Tom Polk, director of planning and development services, responded: "Code Enforcement Officer Kevin Burns stopped by the 'Eat Here' restaurant at 8:55 PM on Sunday (January 6, 2012). At that time, there was not a 'towing sign' found at the location. Mr. Burns was informed by restaurant staff that the towing sign was removed." A sign in front of the new Eat Here restaurant in Siesta Village sparked queries from a county commissioner. Photo courtesy Sarasota County