Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/87353
Sarasota News Leader October 12, 2012 Department of Environmental Impact before the pavers could be installed, Berna told her the owners in this type of situation typically sought County Commission approval before going to FDEP. THE FOOTPATHS During close to an hour of discussion of the request, the commissioners also addressed questions about the beach access available to the owners of the 636 Beach Road property. Along with requesting that the commission require the use of pervious material for the pavers, the Conservation of the Foundation of the Gulf Coast had expressed a desire to limit intrusions into the two oceanfront lots it owns adjacent to the Saba Sands property. Foundation board member Jeff Steinwachs and Dr. Allan Worms, a Sarasota Audubon member, discussed those lots in public com- ments before the board. The Oct. 5 letter the foundation had sent Ber- na said, "Since 2009, a family of Snowy Plo- vers, an imperiled shorebird, has nested each Page 54 year [on the foundation's property on Siesta Beach]." The letter adds that only about 200 breeding pairs of the endangered birds are es- timated to remain in Florida. Worms provided anecdotes about the tra- vails Audubon members experienced over the past summer in trying to make it possible for baby snowy plover chicks to reach the stage of fledging, or flying on their own. Only one chick made it to that point this season, Worms said. Steinwachs then discussed the foundation's concerns about pedestrian footpath access to the foundation's property. Berna, Worms, Steinwachs and Medred took turns talking with the commissioners about an aerial view of footpaths between the foun- dation property and the land owned by Saba Sands. Steinwachs and Medred both were uncertain about the access available to Saba Sands. The foundation letter said, "… [W]e are con- cerned about the effect of any increase in the An aerial map shows the location of 636 Beach Road on Siesta Beach.