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Sarasota News Leader November 29, 2013 Page 97 Siesta Seen the foundation in December 2007, the deed reserved the right for the family to maintain the path to the beach. The deed calls for "a perpetual, appurtenant, exclusive [10-footwide] recreational easement over, across and through said Property for ingress and egress to the beach and Gulf of Mexico." 9 turned down their request to build a residence on the lot. Commissioners denied the request after reviewing evidence about the property having been under the Gulf of Mexico in years past. Berna told me on Nov. 22 that the Allens had provided more information about the latest request, at staff's request. Further details have been sought regarding the plan for dune enhancement if the County Commission approves the project, Berna said. However, as the beach has grown, this footpath and others "have meandered and haven't necessarily followed the property line," Berna added. "People walk on the path of least resistance," he said. If a low spot tends to hold water, for example, people will walk around it "I'm not asking for any changes to the plan," to the point that they end up creating another Berna added. However, he does not have a section of path. date yet for when the County Commission "Technically, the work [the Arbissers] were will hear the petition. doing was allowable," Berna noted. Yet, it THE LIDO PROJECT appeared in this case that workers hired by the family were creating a second path, he The Siesta Key Association is putting out the said, so the county asked the workers to stop. word that the public is welcome to come to the Dec. 5 SKA meeting, when the U.S. Army The Foundation staff has talked with the Corps of Engineers will present details of its Arbissers, he continued. The result is that the proposal for renourishing Lido Beach, includArbissers will abandon and restore the old ing the dredging of Big Pass and the erection footpath and create a new one, Berna said. of three groins on the south end of Lido Key. THE NEW VARIANCE PETITION The session will be conducted from 5 to 7 While I had Berna on the phone last week, p.m. in the St. Boniface Episcopal Church I took the opportunity to ask him about the Community Room, located at 5615 Midnight status of the latest petition to build a house at Pass Road on Siesta Key. 162 Beach Road, which I reported on in early Questions from the public will be welcome. October. On July 10, the owners — Ronald and Sonia Allen — filed a new petition with The $22.7-million project has been controverthe county for a Coastal Setback Variance for sial among some Siesta Key residents and area a three-story structure. They had revised their boaters, because the Army Corps has idendesign since the County Commission on Jan. tified Big Pass as the source of sand for the