Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/87353
Sarasota News Leader October 12, 2012 supervisor in the county's Natural Resourc- es Department, says county records show a 1998 Coastal Setback Variance called for "The driveway and all ground-level areas [to] be composed of crushed shell or other similar porous, non-structural materials acceptable to the County." Additionally, Berna's memo says, "While land- scape plants and sod will be disturbed to in- stall pavers on the northern side of the resi- dence, no impacts to native dune vegetation or dune habitat are proposed." The current owners of the house, under the aegis of a firm called Saba Sands LLC, applied for the new variance so they could create a 1,116-square-foot driveway on the north side of the residence that would allow vehicles to pull into the driveway on the south side of the house, drive under the structure, which is on pilings, and pull out onto Beach Road instead of having to back out onto the road, the memo says. Berna's memo also notes, "The current shell driveway on the southern side of the resi- dence appears to provide space for vehicles to back out of the garage area in such a way as to not require backing onto Beach Road." However, Robert T. Medred of Genesis Plan- ning and Development in Sarasota, who rep- resented the owners before the commission, pointed out that the distance from the edge of the building to the edge of the parking area on one side is only 171 ⁄2 feet. "In my vehicle," he said, "I couldn't even turn around." He added that every other residence except one along that portion of Beach Road, south Page 53 of Siesta Village, had paver bricks or a paved driveway. While the proposal for the variance was con- sistent with environmental elements of the county's comprehensive plan, Thaxton said, it was inconsistent with other aspects of the plan. "Commissioner Thaxton hit the nail on the head," Barbetta said. "And there is access" to Beach Road, Barbetta added. "They've been using a shell driveway there for quite a while." An existing curb cut extends the length of the property along Beach Road, Medred pointed out, so no curb cut would be needed. During his presentation, Berna told the com- mission the owners had cut down three Wash- ingtonia palm trees that had stood in front of the structure. "It is my understanding," Berna said, "that a tree-removal permit would have been required for that. … We're working with the owner on addressing that." Medred told the commission he had talked with the county forester, who had told him no permit was needed for the removal of trees at an owner-occupied, single-family home and that the forester reportedly had talked with Berna about the matter. Nonetheless, Medred said, the owner planned to plant a couple of black olive trees and some foxtail palms as he revamped the landscaping. Saba Sands bought the property about nine months ago, Medred said. When Vice Chairwoman Carolyn Mason asked about the need for a permit from the Florida