Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/297477
That interview took place a day prior to the News Leader interview with Merrill. During the SKA meeting, Luckner empha- sized the organization opposes any request to build beyond the GBSL. "All of us know that the Gulf Beach Setback Line is a last line of defense," she said. Prior to the County Commission hearing in January 2013 regarding the petitions for variances regarding the parcel at 162 Beach Road and 168 Beach Road, the commission- ers received a plethora of email pleading for them to deny the requests. Before the commissioners addressed the lat- est petition on Feb. 19, they had received nine protests by email, which were included in their agenda packet for that meeting. A property owner at 5300 Ocean Blvd. in Siesta Village, who works in New York City, wrote that the GBSL "is the only thing protecting our beach from further erosion — please this is common sense." If approved, he added, the variance "would set a precedent that would lead to even more development and loss of our dunes, grasses and wildlife." An owner of multiple parcels on Siesta Key wrote, "The Gulf Beach Setback Line was established for a reason — as a society, we cannot afford to continue to build stuff in harm's way." A January 2013 aerial view shows Beach Road and The Terrace condominium complex (left) in proximity to the land at 162 Beach Road. Image courtesy Sarasota County Sarasota News Leader April 18, 2014 Page 68