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Sarasota News Leader January 10, 2014 Page 102 Siesta Seen On Jan. 6, I contacted Matt Osterhoudt, manager of conservation and environmental permitting in the Sarasota County Natural Resources Department. He explained that the county already had made plans to send an environmental specialist to the site to investigate the situation. The creation of the channel might not have required county authorization, he pointed out. The specialist would be able to determine whether the work fell within the area governed by the Coastal Construction Control Line the state established in Sarasota County. He also was making certain the appropriate state authorities had been contacted, he added. Over the past year, Sarasota Audubon volunteers have dealt with several violations of environmental guidelines as they have tried to aid the island's avian wildlife in co-existing with human inhabitants and visitors. the afternoon during the Feb. 19 commission meeting. The request from owners Ronald and Sania Allen, represented by attorney William W. Merrill III, is for construction of a new single-family residence and paver driveway at 162 Beach Road. "All proposed construction will be a maximum of 176.5 feet seaward of the Sarasota County Gulf Beach Setback Line (GBSL)," according to the public hearing notice published by the county. "Zoning side-yard and street-yard setback variances are also requested in conjunction with this Coastal Setback Variance," the public notice adds. A nesting area that proved very popular last year with the island's endangered snowy plovers, as well as Least Terns, is on the Gulf of Mexico side of the property. Peter van Roekens, secretary of the Terrace East Condominium in Siesta Village, tells me On Feb. 19, the Sarasota County Commission Terrace East residents are firmly opposed to is scheduled to hear a request for a variance the project. on the property at 162 Beach Road, the same location where the board denied a similar The Siesta Key Association board expressed opposition to the project proposed in 2013. request last year. Berna pointed out last summer that this new Commissioner Nora Patterson perhaps was petition involves a revised construction plan. the most persuasive voice during that discussion. She pointed out to her colleagues on the THE LATEST ON GIDGET'S board that she had seen that property underThe opening of Gidget's Coastal Provisions water in years past. in Siesta Village — on the property formerly Howard Berna, the environmental supervisor occupied by Napoli's restaurant — has been in the county's Natural Resources Department, delayed again, business co-owner Brian said the public hearing probably would be in Wigelsworth told me this week. BEACH ROAD VARIANCE