Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/143399
Sarasota News Leader July 12, 2013 leading discussions with the residential and merchant associations on Siesta Key regarding prohibitions on outdoor merchandise displays and sandwich boards used to advertise restaurant specials. Page 66 DRAFTING THE ORDINANCE CHANGES During the July 2 meeting of the Siesta Key Village Association, President Cheryl Gaddie reprised the June discussion Martha Smith had initiated, noting the topic had arisen during a May 21 zoning meeting with county staff. That Robinson seconded it. May session, which the SKVA had organized, However, if her fellow commissioners did not was designed to educate new business owners want to do that, Patterson said, "that would be about the provisions of the Siesta Key Overlay fine with me. I am responding to a request." District. Robinson reiterated her concern that she did "People were not really clear on outdoor disnot want the staff discussions to include mul- plays and what the code said," Gaddie pointed tiple public meetings. out. "I'm not going to support the motion," Barbetta said, "only because I haven't seen any groundswell [of] requests." He added that he would prefer the commission acted on the basis of formal requests from the SKA and SKVA, "after having their board meetings and properly vetting [the request]." Following the June SKVA meeting, Gaddie continued, Kevin Cooper, executive director of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, began talking with business owners and working on a solution regarding outdoor displays. Cooper told the members present on July 2 that he had learned outdoor merchandise displays are not allowed anywhere in the coun"That's a great suggestion," Robinson told him. ty except under a temporary use permit or a Patterson then said she would make sure to special exception granted by the County Comprovide all her colleagues with copies of a mission. draft amendment to the SKOD regarding the Statewide, Cooper added, ordinances vary outdoor displays as well as a letter she had widely in regard to such displays. Based on received from the owner of Comfort Shoes in his research, he drafted the proposed amendSiesta Village, requesting outdoor displays. ment to the SKOD that would permit business "Tell those [business owners] to go through owners to have wares outside under specific the usual channels," Barbetta said again: Ap- circumstances. The county's zoning administrator, Brad Bailey, "seemed to be receptive to proach the associations for support. the concept," Cooper noted, when Smith and "I'll be happy to do that," Patterson replied, Rick Lizotte, owner of Comfort Shoes — lothen asked Chairwoman Carolyn Mason to cated at 5128 Ocean Blvd. — talked with Bairule her motion out of order. ley about it.