Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/203490
Sarasota News Leader November 1, 2013 Page 100 Siesta Seen In the meantime, I spoke late last week with Kevin Cooper, the executive director of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, to get his thoughts on the vote. Cooper addressed the board when it considered the request in May for some type of parking regulations on Avenida de Mayo. Nonetheless, Cooper said he always worries when Siesta Village businesses lose parking spaces. Discussion I heard among residents and members of the Siesta Key Association (SKA) indicated that after Eat Here Siesta Key opened its doors to patrons last year — and "For me, obviously, safety is a primary con- quickly became a popular new dining choice cern," Cooper said. After he read Tobias' on the island — even more overflow parking August memo, which cited specific concerns ended up on Avenida de Mayo. about the potential for visitor parking on both "I'd like to see a solution for replenishing sides of the narrow road to block emergency [those lost spaces] in some way," Cooper told vehicles, Cooper added that it was clear "it me. was 100 percent necessary to make sure there As Sarasota County Code Enforcement were some concessions …" Officer John Lally has pointed out for years, It is difficult to protest a plan designed to pro- the island desperately needs a long-term parktect visitors and residents alike, he pointed out. ing solution, possibly a garage. An aerial map shows the location of Avenida de Mayo. Image courtesy Sarasota County