Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/264109
thumping away "hour after hour" at Bob's Boathouse, she added, "We can understand how POWs can be broken down so easily and quickly with constant stress, noise and lack of sleep." Jim McWhorter, president of the River Forest Civic Association — whose residents also live near the restaurant — pointed out in a Feb. 14 email to members that research shows Sarasota County, through its Air and Sound Pollution Ordinance, allows twice the level of "nightclub noise" during the daytime and four times the level at night "during sleeping hours" than any other county on the west coast of Florida. McWhorter told the commissioners during the public comments portion of the Feb. 19 meeting that if the board approves the proposed changes, the daytime noise level will have to drop by 44 percent at residential sites in the vicinity of Bob's Boathouse, and it will have to go down by "a whopping 88 per- cent at night, a level of normal speech during sleeping hours." Susan Phelps, a Realtor, pointed out during public comments that she is "a longtime resi- dent of the idyllic island that is situated across the street from Bob's Boathouse. I can tell you that this situation is totally out of control." Phelps added, "From a professional stand- point, I could not ethically sell a house on this island without disclosing to a buyer that they need to take notice — which wouldn't be hard — of the noise issuing from Bob's Boathouse. If any of the residents wanted to sell, they couldn't sell for what they would have gotten six months ago," in spite of the rebound in the market. THE DISCUSSION As Assistant Zoning Administrator Donna Thompson began her presentation to the commissioners, she noted she had just distrib- uted to them more emails from River Forest Civic Association residents in support of the proposed ordinance changes. " G r e a t w o r k b y staff," Commissioner J o e B a r b e t t a s a i d . However, he pointed out, the work had been accomplished i n a s h o r t t i m e . (Commissioner Nora Patterson first pro- posed the changes on Jan. 14, during another discussion about issues regarding Bob's Boathouse.) "I'm wondering if we've had any feedback from affected parties that have special excep- tions" or any other entities that would have to deal with the changes, Barbetta asked. "Are there unintended consequences that are going to affect them?" Barbetta continued, "I support the residents. I know what they're going through with Bob's Boathouse, but this is a reaction to that, and I just want to make sure we're not going to get hammered from the other side …" I support the residents. I know what they're going through with Bob's Boathouse, but this is a reaction to that, and I just want to make sure we're not going to get hammered from the other side … Joe Barbetta Commissioner Sarasota County Sarasota News Leader February 21, 2014 Page 24