Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/133618
Sarasota News Leader May 31, 2013 Page 20 teries. The Baumanns had to call the Sarasota day "little bridges" could be constructed to County Sheriff's Office on Feb. 16, he added, connect some of them to the roads. because they spotted a suspicious vehicle When Robinson asked County Attorney Steparked on the site. phen DeMarsh to weigh in on the Parks Policy "This area has been long neglected and is in the Comprehensive Plan, DeMarsh told the essentially a garbage dump in the neighbor- board, "You, as the commission, would have hood," he said, even though the Baumanns the prerogative, if you choose, to decline to vacate this right of way consistent with state have tried to keep it clean. law and, I believe, the Comprehensive Plan Kennedy told the commissioners county staff policy." recently had been maintaining the property. Robinson made a motion to deny the BauIf the county vacated the right of way, Lichter- manns' request for the county to vacate the man continued, the Baumanns and DCA Fidu right of way. Patterson seconded it. Trust Estate would plant mangrove seedlings along the shoreline to stabilize it, and the Bau- "I'm glad these comp plan policies are in place, to tell the truth," Patterson said. "I think water manns have proposed a bio-swale to cleanse access, for people who can't afford to live on water that sheets off Avenida de Mayo during the water, is extremely important." heavy rain events. Those actions would lead to improved water quality in the canal, he not- However, Hines said he could not support the ed. motion. "I think to encourage the public to use this [property] makes us have the responsibiliDIGGING INTO THE FACTS ty to maintain that," which the county had not Patterson pointed out that much of the water been doing until after the Baumanns submitaccess on Siesta Key — where, she empha- ted their petition, he pointed out. sized, she has lived for more than 40 years — After the motion failed on a 3-2 vote, Hines is available at "the butt ends of roads." made a new motion to approve the vacation of the right of way and allow staff about 60 days Levin insisted, "This is a unique situation. … to handle the utilities easements. There are many subdivisions where the roads are dedicated to end at the water," he said. In When DeMarsh asked whether he wanted to this case, Calle de Costa Rica was intended to continue the public hearing, Hines said, "No. be a north-south travel way "and there was no We've had it. … I don't know that there's a need to hear additional public input …" canal" when the subdivision was platted. Patterson replied that with "several similar No member of the public other than Silvers situations on the key," she had assumed one had spoken during the hearing. % facebook.com/SarasotaNewsLeader