Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/146256
Sarasota News Leader July 26, 2013 Page 91 Siesta Seen In some cases, he continued, FDOT has required that a facility be brought up to state standards prior to a transfer. "For River Road, this requirement could result in widening to four lanes or improving the existing two lanes to improve drainage and pave shoulders. It should be noted that in the discussion … FDOT was not stipulating that River Road be brought up to standards," Harriott added. Road and the Stickney Point Road intersection have been unsuccessful. However, Patterson always pointed to her concerns about the county having to assume the costs of the road's maintenance. The proposed exchange puts that in a different light, of course. Patterson has been out of town since shortly after the County Commission went on its sumFDOT representatives also pointed out that, mer break early this month, so I was unable regardless of maintenance responsibilities, "future funding and prioritization would come to reach her this week for a comment. through the local Metropolitan Planning Or- THE SABAL DRIVE MATTER ganization. Generally, the FDOT looks to the local governments for project priorities and After we "went to press" with our July 19 allocates those funds within the work pro- issue, I had the opportunity to spend some gram, subject to approval by the Metropoli- time reading through the complaint Sarasotan Planning Organization. … In other words," ta County has filed against the property ownHarriott pointed out, "State funding for River ers of a house located at 6537 Sabal Drive on Road will be the same, based on the MPO pri- Siesta Key. oritization process, regardless of whether the Among the questions raised in the complaint is facility is maintained by the County or by the exactly what role Dr. Craig Siegel, a Sarasota State." chiropractor, plays in this whole matter. The Harriott concluded with a recommendation complaint states that Siesta Resorts LLC is the that county staff proceed with the analysis of trustee of the land trust that owns the house. future capital costs and ongoing maintenance The complaint notes that on Dec. 31, 2012, and operating costs, as indicated above. Siegel, acting individually as trustee, executPatterson has pointed out on a number of oc- ed and recorded a "Grant of Possessory Right casions over the past couple of years that she and Beneficial Interest" in county records. has had requests from Siesta residents want- That instrument purports to convey from Sieing the county to take over State Road 758 so gel, as trustee of Land Trust Agreement 11142 it could reduce the speed limit in places on — dated Dec. 31, 2012 — to Siegel individualSiesta Key. Resident efforts to get FDOT to ly, "the possessory right and beneficial interlower the limit from 35 mph to 30 mph on the est" in the property, the complaint says. Howportion of Midnight Pass Road between Beach ever, "A search of the Official Records does