Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/112475
Sarasota News Leader March 1, 2013 Page 23 St. Armands and Lido Beach have strong neighborhood associations. They are very protective and savvy. How much more development do we need there, I���m not sure. Before you get more development, you need appropriate and environmentally sound infrastructure there to do it in a safe way. Holland: Barrier islands are so sensitive, but also so desirable. I believe we have to be very, very careful on development on barrier islands, and my tendency is not to look to the barrier islands for development. That���s kind of a tough area. Renourish beaches? ��� ��� ��� Parts of Sarasota ��� including St. Armands Circle ��� are prone to flooding when high tides or storms create a rise in sea level. Should the city continue to encourage development on its barrier islands? ��� ��� ��� Atwell: Sure. Absolutely. ��� ��� ��� Should we continue to renourish the beaches? Chapman: That���s a hard question. I have mixed feelings on that. It���s feeding a marshmallow that���s floating in the ocean, but it���s Chapman: That���s another reality we���re goalso our economy, too. We���re a tourist econoing to have to face: rising sea levels. It���s very my. We realize beaches ebb and flow, but it���s complex, and we have to recognize the lack hard to say, ���Let it go.��� of insurance, the lack of ability to stop it, is very much going to impact our area. And it���s I have exceedingly mixed feelings on that. Our not just on barrier islands. economy is very dependent on tourism, and we have to recognize we have these incredible It���s an earth issue we are going to have to face. There���s a substantial amount of investment beaches. Having been here 23 years, I���ve seen out there. And it may resolve itself, like it���s no beach and a lot of beach coming and going, resolving itself in New York right now with and lots of renourishment. Siesta Key seems the big storm that wipes everything out. Then to be benefitting and Lido Key doesn���t. we���ll really have to face that issue. ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� Should we continue to renourish the Parts of Sarasota ��� including St. Ar- beaches? mands Circle ��� are prone to flooding Holland: Yes, I believe we have to. They are when high tides or storms create a rise such a critical part of our community and the in sea level. Should the city continue to whole ecosystem. encourage development on its barrier is��� ��� ��� lands?