Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/88739
Sarasota News Leader October 19, 2012 However, the idea has not proven popular with three Siesta Key organizations. Six days before the Bonastos' application will come before the Sarasota County Commis- sion, Russell Matthes, president of the Siesta Key Village Association, sent a letter to the County Commission saying the SKVA was not in support of the Bonastos' request for a tem- porary use permit (TUP) "to allow for a street vendor on the County right-of-way" at Canal Road and Calle Menorca. The letter adds, "The truck size [18 feet by 20 feet] and location [are] intrusive to the near- by residences and [the truck] competes directly with restaurants within 200 ft. of the proposed vendor site." Additionally, Matthes wrote, "Restaurants in the Siesta Key Overlay District (SKOD) are limit- ed to the number of [tem- porary use permits] and are allowed only [a] cer- tain number of day/times of year for such permits. Page 19 ments and overall improvements of the Vil- lage" over the past 10 years. Matthes had met with representatives of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce and the Si- esta Key Association, he added, "and they are in agreement that this type of permit should not be issued at any time on Siesta Key." SKA President Catherine Luckner told the News Leader the Bonastos' TUP application had been a topic of dis- cussion during the Pres- idents Council meeting early this week on Siesta Key. That council is com- posed of representatives from the SKVA, the SKA, the SKCC and the Siesta Key Condominium Coun- cil. A sketch submitted to Sarasota County staff for review shows the planned loca- tion of the Gumbo Mojo food truck. Im- age courtesy Sarasota County Siesta Key Business Owners are finally see- ing an improvement in their businesses. This type of street vendor could negatively impact existing businesses by limiting future growth and/or sustainability during these challenging economic times." He continued, "[B]usiness owners feel that this is a step back from the cosmetic enhance- Luckner said she agreed with Matthes and mem- bers of the other orga- nizations that the food truck proposal was not compatible with the TUP guidelines the organiza- tions had agreed to and the County Commission had approved for the SKOD in June 2011. Luckner and Mark Smith, chairman of the Si- esta Chamber, also sent letters to the County Commission on Oct. 17 to oppose the Bonas- tos' request. Smith's letter notes, "The applicants are not planning on using a pushcart but a panel truck … that will block view lines to the adjacent