Greer Island could erode away if groins are moved to the south.

According to a report by the town’s engineering firm Coastal Planning and Engineering (CPE), if the proposed groins at the north end of Longboat Key are placed beginning at the 360 North Condominiums, and not north of Greer Island, the erosion at Greer Island would be so severe that the small island could eventually be lost.

For this reason, CPE does not recommend moving the groins south toward 360 North as requested by the Town Commission in November 2011. Manatee County Commissioner Joe McClash agrees.

“In reviewing the recent study for the pass, I cannot support the recommendations of destroying the recreational areas (Greer Island) that many people now enjoy. It also would take away the natural beauty myself and others have pledged to protect.”

The original request by town commissioners to have no groins placed on Greer Island was to avoid involving Manatee County, which owns Greer Island, in case they did not grant permission for the construction.

CPE’s official recommendation is to leave the first of the groins on Greer Island.

“The Recommended Inlet Management Plan for Longboat Pass includes a new terminal groin on the north end of Longboat Key, which would be constructed on property owned by Manatee County. If the terminal groin were moved to the 360 North Condominium property, the area between the structure and Longboat Pass would be subject to higher erosion rates and increased shoreline retreat that would occur as the inlet channel moved closer to Longboat Key. The channel migration pattern could potentially increase the maintenance dredging requirement in the Authorized Channel of Longboat Pass.

“Moving the location of the terminal groin south to the 360 North property would result in increased erosion of Greer Island and would not meet one of the goals of the Inlet Management Study, which was to preserve Greer Island. It is likely that FDEP would not be as favorable to the southerly-located groin. For these reasons we do not recommend pursuing this alternative,” according to the CPE report.

The erosion

Longboat Pass is an inlet that separates Anna Maria Island from Longboat Key and connects Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. According to the CPE report, both Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key have shorelines that are classified by the FDEP as critically eroded. The area from Greer Island to Palmetto Avenue on Longboat Key has experienced some of the highest erosion rates on Longboat Key, losing 35 to 131 cubic yards/foot between July 2006 and October 2010, according to CPE.

Moving the proposed groins

During the November 3, 2011, workshop, the Longboat Key Town Commission asked CPE how the terminal groins could be constructed if Manatee County were unwilling to allow the structure on Greer Island. As a result of this question, CPE ran a new model if the proposed terminal groin on the north end of Longboat Key would be moved south, onto the 360 North condominium property within the town’s jurisdictional limits. This scenario, termed by CPE as the “Modified Terminal Groin Scenario,” was assessed to determine the changes to the beach profile as a result of relocating the proposed terminal groin.

Modeling results from moving the groin

According to the CPE report, the Modified Terminal Groin Scenario indicates that between 360 North Condominium and Beachwalk Condominium, more of the dredge spoil from Longboat Pass will remain on the beach than under the original Recommended Inlet Management Plan. However, beachfront erosion rates between the terminal groin and Longboat Pass would be higher than either the No Action Scenario or the Recommended Inlet Management Plan.

The potential for higher erosion rates on Greer Island, north of the relocated groin, is due to the partial blockage of northerly-directed sediment movement at the groin. According to CPE, this results in increased scouring along the northern end of Greer Island, bringing the inlet channel closer to the north end of Longboat Key. Since the channel moves south, the existing channel will fill in, which means that maintenance dredging of Longboat Pass will increase with the Modified Terminal Groin Scenario from the Recommended Inlet Management Plan.

Commissioner questions

Commissioner Jack Duncan has many questions regarding the CPE report, including why they did not wait for more conclusive data.

“They imply that because of the short period of time the groins have been in place if we wait until October we will get more conclusive data, then why not wait? Finally, they say that in the aggregate sand has actually increased for the area in question, if that’s the case then why not just move the sand (bulldoze it) from the accrete area to the eroded area?” said Duncan.

Commissioners will discuss the proposed groin solutions at a future commission meeting.

The town of Longboat Key has officially ‘appealed the appeal’ of the Islandside development order in an effort to get the project back on track after it was derailed last December in circuit court.

Both the Key Club and the town agreed to file the appeal Jan. 30 to reverse the ruling by Circuit Court Judge Charles Roberts that halted plans for redevelopment at the Islandside property when he found in favor of the Islandside Property Owners Coalition.

The town is the appealing party, but the Key Club is paying the town’s legal fees in support of the effort.

Roberts in late December overturned the town of Longboat Key’s approval of a redevelopment plan that included a new hotel, a condo building, a spa and fitness center and meeting space, ruling that it violated zoning code. He found for the plaintiff on all seven counts and called the approval by the town a “miscarriage of justice.”

Despite the ruling, the Longboat Key Town Commission unanimously voted to appeal Roberts’ ruling last month to the Second District. IPOC President Bob White then asked the Town Commission to not appeal and continue down the path of conforming Longboat Key’s land use laws simply to stand by an “illegal and inappropriate approval.”

The commission has also agreed to “surgically” amend the town’s zoning code to resolve inconsistencies described in the ruling.

One of the areas of greatest concern to both the town and commission is that Judge Roberts said the proposed commercial and office uses were not allowed in the planned development. In short, an expansion of commercial activity or uses would not be allowed. That could have a ripple effect on the planned Publix approval, which also intensifies activity in a planned development site.

In the appeal, written by Carlton Fields Attorney Sylvia Walbolt, Walbolt argues that the court did not mention that the planning director and expert planning consultants opined that the town was in its authority to grant the development order. She added that the State Department of Community Affairs also interpreted the zoning code similarly with the town. She said the town amended its code to satisfy the DCA’s issues.

Walbolt says that the judge found the code “clear and unambiguous” in precluding the proposed redevelopment. She challenged that view by showing the other professional interpretations, which she says the judge ignored. She also cites a 1973 land-use case that says municipalities must be consistent in their application and intent of land-use law.

Part of the dilemma is then-Planning and Zoning Director Monica Simpson issued a letter during the proceedings that said she could not support approval of the revised Key Club application due to it appearing to violate the requirements of the zoning code.

Walbolt argues that Simpson was expressing planning concerns and was not in a position to make a definitive zoning compliance determination. Simpson, Walbolt says, made statements about the project being “perhaps too intense to be consistent…” with the land regulations.

Walbolt is arguing that Simpson was not making definitive zoning statements, but expressing planning concerns about the south end Islandside density and site. Walbolt says the judge seized on isolated statements at reaching his conclusion.

Walbolt also argues that the town must defer to the property owner/applicant if any element is vague or ambiguous. She also faults the judge for not considering the competent substantial evidence that the town and Key Club presented to support its assertions.

The Second District Court of Appeal will consider the matter. If the court overturns the lower court, the matter will be remanded with instructions to the lower court to essentially change its ruling in conformance with the higher court’s interpretation.

If the town loses, then the development order is officially dead.

Greer Island could erode away if groins are moved to the south.

According to a report by the town’s engineering firm Coastal Planning and Engineering (CPE), if the proposed groins at the north end of Longboat Key are placed beginning at the 360 North Condominiums, and not north of Greer Island, the erosion at Greer Island would be so severe that the small island could eventually be lost.

For this reason, CPE does not recommend moving the groins south toward 360 North as requested by the Town Commission in November 2011. Manatee County Commissioner Joe McClash agrees.

“In reviewing the recent study for the pass, I cannot support the recommendations of destroying the recreational areas (Greer Island) that many people now enjoy. It also would take away the natural beauty myself and others have pledged to protect.”

The original request by town commissioners to have no groins placed on Greer Island was to avoid involving Manatee County, which owns Greer Island, in case they did not grant permission for the construction.

CPE’s official recommendation is to leave the first of the groins on Greer Island.

“The Recommended Inlet Management Plan for Longboat Pass includes a new terminal groin on the north end of Longboat Key, which would be constructed on property owned by Manatee County. If the terminal groin were moved to the 360 North Condominium property, the area between the structure and Longboat Pass would be subject to higher erosion rates and increased shoreline retreat that would occur as the inlet channel moved closer to Longboat Key. The channel migration pattern could potentially increase the maintenance dredging requirement in the Authorized Channel of Longboat Pass.

“Moving the location of the terminal groin south to the 360 North property would result in increased erosion of Greer Island and would not meet one of the goals of the Inlet Management Study, which was to preserve Greer Island. It is likely that FDEP would not be as favorable to the southerly-located groin. For these reasons we do not recommend pursuing this alternative,” according to the CPE report.

The erosion

Longboat Pass is an inlet that separates Anna Maria Island from Longboat Key and connects Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. According to the CPE report, both Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key have shorelines that are classified by the FDEP as critically eroded. The area from Greer Island to Palmetto Avenue on Longboat Key has experienced some of the highest erosion rates on Longboat Key, losing 35 to 131 cubic yards/foot between July 2006 and October 2010, according to CPE.

Moving the proposed groins

During the November 3, 2011, workshop, the Longboat Key Town Commission asked CPE how the terminal groins could be constructed if Manatee County were unwilling to allow the structure on Greer Island. As a result of this question, CPE ran a new model if the proposed terminal groin on the north end of Longboat Key would be moved south, onto the 360 North condominium property within the town’s jurisdictional limits. This scenario, termed by CPE as the “Modified Terminal Groin Scenario,” was assessed to determine the changes to the beach profile as a result of relocating the proposed terminal groin.

Modeling results from moving the groin

According to the CPE report, the Modified Terminal Groin Scenario indicates that between 360 North Condominium and Beachwalk Condominium, more of the dredge spoil from Longboat Pass will remain on the beach than under the original Recommended Inlet Management Plan. However, beachfront erosion rates between the terminal groin and Longboat Pass would be higher than either the No Action Scenario or the Recommended Inlet Management Plan.

The potential for higher erosion rates on Greer Island, north of the relocated groin, is due to the partial blockage of northerly-directed sediment movement at the groin. According to CPE, this results in increased scouring along the northern end of Greer Island, bringing the inlet channel closer to the north end of Longboat Key. Since the channel moves south, the existing channel will fill in, which means that maintenance dredging of Longboat Pass will increase with the Modified Terminal Groin Scenario from the Recommended Inlet Management Plan.

Commissioner Jack Duncan has many questions regarding the CPE report, including why they did not wait for more conclusive data.

“They imply that because of the short period of time the groins have been in place if we wait until October we will get more conclusive data, then why not wait? Finally, they say that in the aggregate sand has actually increased for the area in question, if that’s the case then why not just move the sand (bulldoze it) from the accrete area to the eroded area?” said Duncan.

Commissioners will discuss the proposed groin solutions at a future commission meeting.

MELISSA REID
Associate Publisher
mreid@lbknews.com

Sarasota resident Roy MacPhail wrote the Longboat Key Town Commission this week soliciting support for prohibiting drinking alcoholic beverages on Sarasota beaches, after his sister was killed in January by an alleged drunk driver. Longboat Key has an ordinance prohibiting drinking alcohol on the beach, and MacPhail thinks the support of all local leaders, including the Longboat Key Town Commission, will help his cause.

“The reason I am writing to you is my sister was killed several weeks ago by a drunk driver on Siesta Key. Siesta Key is one of few beaches in Florida that allows drinking on the beach and I do understand all the mixed emotions both for and against these kinds of laws. Since we are now at a meeting stage with our local commissioners I was hoping you could give me your thoughts on getting this passed through, as well as, your feeling if it has been beneficial to your local area or not,” MacPhail wrote in a letter to commissioners.

Donna Chen, a mother of three and MacPhail’s sister, was jogging along Midnight Pass Road with her dog Saturday, Jan. 7, when she was struck by 22-year-old Blake Talman who had allegedly been drinking whiskey at the pavilion on Siesta Key and then drove 90 mph down Midnight Pass Road.

According to Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Talman had allegedly been drinking with friends, including 24-year old David Brewer and 28-year-old Michael Blakey, at the Siesta Key Pavilion and had been approached by sheriff’s officers twice after receiving complaints about their loud and unruly behavior. According to the sheriff’s office, Talman has six felony arrests and 23 misdemeanors, while Brewer has four felony arrests and 11 misdemeanors. The sheriff’s report states that after officers ran warrant checks on the three individuals and found none, the individuals were sent to the beach to sober up. Talman and Brewer later entered the car, drove on Midnight Pass Road and allegedly struck and killed Chen. Her dog survived the accident.

Commissioners responded to MacPhail’s plea with sympathy and from most commissioners a willingness to help in any way possible.

“I heard about your sister through the local media and your efforts to try to prevent another tragedy. I was horrified that the young man who, the reports stated, was so obviously drunk, but was breaking no laws. I send my condolences to her husband, children, your family and her beloved pet. If there is any way to prevent another family from experiencing the pain you all must be going through, your efforts are to be commended. By copy of this note, I am asking our Police Chief Al Hogle to review the facts and tell me if he has any suggestions that we, as a town, can implement,” Commissioner Lynn Larson wrote.

Commissioner Patricia Zunz responded similarly.

“First I would like to express my condolences to you and your sister’s family and to commend you for trying to take positive steps to prevent such an accident in the future. For as long as I have been here on Longboat Key, drinking has not been allowed on our beaches, and our beaches are closely monitored. Despite signs that warn against bringing alcoholic beverages onto the beach, the signs are ignored from time to time. Our town manager, Dave Bullock, could perhaps help you with statistics regarding warrants given on a weekly or monthly basis to people who break that law here on Longboat,” said Zunz.

Commissioner Jack Duncan also offered his assistance.

“I was shocked and deeply saddened when I first heard this news. So first and foremost, I would like to offer my condolences to you and to your family. I saw that Commissioner Zunz has already responded to your email request regarding Longboat Key’s ordinance 92.03 that clearly prohibits any unsealed alcoholic beverages on our public beaches. I have taken the liberty to copy David Bullock, our town manager, on your request for statistical information regarding the effect this ordinance has had. By copy of this email I am asking him to follow up with you on your request. Finally, I personally support any effort to keep alcoholic beverages off our public beaches. If in some way you feel I can be of service to you in your endeavors, please feel free to call on me.”

Mayor Jim Brown expressed his sympathies but said that prohibiting alcohol on the beach would not solve the problem.

“While I can feel your pain, in fact, it brings tears to my eyes as I think of your loss. No one can stand in your shoes. The loss of your sister and the loss to her husband and children will forever be a terrible thing. While I understand your attempt to strike out at the partial source of the thing that created this loss, I can’t believe that banning drinking on beaches is the problem. All too often, we react to tragic events by adding additional layers…I’m sorry but I accidently hit send before finishing my point. I don’t think this is a good way to discuss your loss. I don’t see that just banning alcohol on beaches is the solution. The real problem is that these individuals would not obey any law so it wouldn’t help. Good luck with your attempt to find a solution,” said Brown.

MacPhail contends however that that the issue is not one drunk person but the lack of a law that would prohibit people from drinking shots of whiskey at a public pavilion.

MacPhail is also asking any citizens who support banning alcohol from Sarasota beaches to sign an online petition at www.change.org/petitions/community-ban-drinking-on-siesta-key-beach-spare-a-drink-save-a-life.

More than two-thirds of Longboat Key Republican voters voted for Romney in the Jan. 31 presidential primary.

In Sarasota County Precinct 19, Romney got 965 votes or 72 percent of the total.
In Manatee County Precinct 95, Romney received 387 votes or 64 percent of the total.
Romney received 1,352 Longboat Key votes or 69.26 percent of votes of the total 1,952 votes cast in the Republican primary on Longboat Key. About 59 percent of the island’s 3,304 registered Republicans cast ballots.

In total Romney won 706 more votes on Longboat than Gingrich, who did not see a similar margin of victory in any of the counties he won Tuesday. Romney’s margin of victory was so sizable as the polls closed that news outlets called the race as polls closed at 8 p.m.

Romney, the ex-Massachusetts governor came back after losing South Carolina and having his Iowa win revoked. Romney is armed with $20 million as he heads to Nevada, which holds its caucuses today, Feb. 3. In Florida, Romney spent more than $15 million on commercials.

Gingrich said he will fight for every vote and said he will be the nominee in August, despite the Florida outcome.

The town of Longboat Key has officially ‘appealed the appeal’ of the Islandside development order in an effort to get the project back on track after it was derailed last December in circuit court.

Both the Key Club and the town agreed to file the appeal Jan. 30 to reverse the ruling by Circuit Court Judge Charles Roberts that halted plans for redevelopment at the Islandside property when he found in favor of the Islandside Property Owners Coalition.

The town is the appealing party, but the Key Club is paying the town’s legal fees in support of the effort.

Roberts in late December overturned the town of Longboat Key’s approval of a redevelopment plan that included a new hotel, a condo building, a spa and fitness center and meeting space, ruling that it violated zoning code. He found for the plaintiff on all seven counts and called the approval by the town a “miscarriage of justice.”

Despite the ruling, the Longboat Key Town Commission unanimously voted to appeal Roberts’ ruling last month to the Second District. IPOC President Bob White then asked the Town Commission to not appeal and continue down the path of conforming Longboat Key’s land use laws simply to stand by an “illegal and inappropriate approval.”

The commission has also agreed to “surgically” amend the town’s zoning code to resolve inconsistencies described in the ruling.

One of the areas of greatest concern to both the town and commission is that Judge Roberts said the proposed commercial and office uses were not allowed in the planned development. In short, an expansion of commercial activity or uses would not be allowed. That could have a ripple effect on the planned Publix approval, which also intensifies activity in a planned development site.

In the appeal, written by Carlton Fields Attorney Sylvia Walbolt, Walbolt argues that the court did not mention that the planning director and expert planning consultants opined that the town was in its authority to grant the development order. She added that the State Department of Community Affairs also interpreted the zoning code similarly with the town. She said the town amended its code to satisfy the DCA’s issues.

Walbolt says that the judge found the code “clear and unambiguous” in precluding the proposed redevelopment. She challenged that view by showing the other professional interpretations, which she says the judge ignored. She also cites a 1973 land-use case that says municipalities must be consistent in their application and intent of land-use law.

Part of the dilemma is then-Planning and Zoning Director Monica Simpson issued a letter during the proceedings that said she could not support approval of the revised Key Club application due to it appearing to violate the requirements of the zoning code.

Walbolt argues that Simpson was expressing planning concerns and was not in a position to make a definitive zoning compliance determination. Simpson, Walbolt says, made statements about the project being “perhaps too intense to be consistent…” with the land regulations.

Walbolt is arguing that Simpson was not making definitive zoning statements, but expressing planning concerns about the south end Islandside density and site. Walbolt says the judge seized on isolated statements at reaching his conclusion.

Walbolt also argues that the town must defer to the property owner/applicant if any element is vague or ambiguous. She also faults the judge for not considering the competent substantial evidence that the town and Key Club presented to support its assertions.

The Second District Court of Appeal will consider the matter. If the court overturns the lower court, the matter will be remanded with instructions to the lower court to essentially change its ruling in conformance with the higher court’s interpretation.

If the town loses, then the development order is officially dead.

Both the Longboat Key Fire Department EMS and the Longboat Key Police Department responded to the pedestrian traffic accident, which occurred at 2925 Gulf of Mexico Drive, adjacent to the Islander Club Condominium.

According to police, the pedestrian attempted to cross Gulf of Mexico Drive from east to west heading toward the Islander Club. A Longboat Key businessman heading home from work was driving southbound on Gulf of Mexico Drive and unsuccessfully attempted to avoid striking the pedestrian.

The driver stopped immediately to render aid and called 911 for assistance. The pedestrian was a visitor to Longboat Key from another state.

The Longboat Key EMS and Police both responded and treatment at the scene was unsuccessful. The pedestrian died at the scene.

Longboat Key Police Capt. Peter Cumming and Dep. Chief Sandi Drake supervised the initial medical efforts and the scene of the investigation.

Family members of the pedestrian and the businessman came to the scene to render assistance and provide compassion and dignity to them.

The Sarasota Police Department Traffic Homicide Unit responded to provide mutual assistance in the investigation of the traffic accident. Traffic was disrupted to one-lane passage while the investigation was completed.

Until family members are notified, the Police will not release the names of the pedestrian or the businessman. That is expected to happen on Monday.

STEVE REID
Editor & Publisher
sreid@lbknews.com

Longboat Key Commissioner Patricia Zunz has battled power outages at her Lands End home for more than 15 years — this week she made significant headway.

It turns out that Florida Power & Light, after surveying the aged system, found a series of palm trees that tower over and then drop fronds on a section of line spanning about three pole lengths on the very northern tip of the Key.

Zunz says FP&L will soon replace the standard power line in that span with an insulated, direct-bury cable that should not short out when fronds fall.

Zunz says the outages affect about 750 homes and have occurred as frequently as 15 times a month and last often an hour.

Zunz says she started keeping a journal of the outages and she has worked with FPL rep Joel Wolf, whom she credits as being responsive in trying to address the issue. Zunz urges any homeowner who experiences such an outage or has any insight to call Wolf at 941-927-4238.

Zunz said that on Friday the Key lost power to about 2,000 homes, but that was due to a different issue on the mainland that rippled to the Key. Zunz said she was told that FP&L is also installing a series of relays and circuits so that if an outage or issue occurs in Bradenton, an entire Longboat supply line will not also go dark.

Zunz laments that the Town did not initiate burying the power lines when as she says, “It was still economically feasible; the prices are horrendous now.”

JEANETTE BILLINGS

Media Director
jbillings@lbknews.com

We have all watched Whitney Beach Plaza week by week hoping to see increasing signs of commercial activity.

Plans announced a year ago by then-manager Brian Kenney anticipated a major anchor by last April and a subsequent improvement to the property.

And while that has not happened, slowly, patiently and strategically many of the remaining businesses have not only held on, they are embracing the season with initiatives.

Irina LaRose, co-owner of Design 2000, has been at her location for over 11 years. She counts the pluses: one-of-a-kind water views. You can show up by boat, car, bike or on foot.

During a visit to the salon this week, two customers had pedicures while watching wildlife jump, splash and swim.

Irina and husband, Jim, have been in the hair salon business for over 30 years, with a business in St. Louis, Mo before relocating to Florida.

Bayou Tavern offers Italian Food with a focus on fresh ingredients and relaxed atmosphere.

Owner Domenico Padula and Chef Angelo offer a full liquor bar and beautiful Views of Bayou canal. Dine inside with outdoor views or sit on the patio for a full outdoor dining experience.

Blue Iguana Café is Whitney Beach Plaza’s newest tenant. Owner and Chef Robbin Widnaier ceased an opportunity to offer north enders, breakfast, lunch and a great cup of coffee.

Longboat Key Mayor Jim Brown welcomed residents to the first of two open forum meetings to vet the proposed redevelopment of Bayfront Park into a new Community Center.

Brown, who has been involved with previous Community Center development proposals, shared the background history of studies, research, concepts and designs.

“It should be noted that Lisa Wannemacher architect of Wannemacher Jensen has spent 1.5 to 2 years, starting in 2002, visiting, researching and developing concepts for the plan. Wannemacher Jensen has a long history of developing concepts for community centers, having developed over 30 centers in other communities,” said Brown.

Brown reminded residents the previous proposal for a Community Center at Bayfront Park was vetted to residents and failed heavily in a referendum vote.

“The dynamics of the Town were different at the time, there were anti Town Hall sentiments, opposing groups, compromises over limited space and concerns over high costs,” said Brown.

Brown noted that since that time things have changed.  Sarasota County bought the adjacent site, providing an opportunity to expand the park without the previous compromises. As well as the Town’s purchase of .71 acres including added waterfront, to the south of the site.

Since Sarasota County’s purchase of the additional land for Town use, Town Hall has held meetings for citizen input to find out what residents’ want in a community center.

“Now we are here today with an expanded plan,” said Brown. “If what we want to do is right the Commission decided to have public meeting to start talking about the building and its function.”

“When we reviewed the project from 2003 – 2004 we talked more about a recreation center versus a community center. John Summers grabbed me and told me about time he spent in The Villages in Orlando. They have 10 community centers and it is an active and good way from a community to come together. I told Lisa we need to go and see that.”

Wannemacher said she has already visited The Villages as well as several other community centers. What she has found is that the most successful community centers have programs from early until late, seven days a week.

“Basically they have a multifunctional building. It’s important that we listen to you, the citizens, to ensure the center is a reflection of what you need to bring you out of your home, meeting your neighbors, enriching your life,” said Wannemacher.

Wannemacher cited the success the Wannemacher Jensen’s Largo Community Center Project.

“It’s a quality of life, enriching the community, increasing property values. A place where neighbors, family and friends enjoy various activities. It’s very popular.

We want to think about what would bring you here; movies under the stars, yoga, sailing classes, any number of things. We are here today to show you what we have, listen to what you want and then to make it even better,” said Wannemacher.

Wannemacher and her partner, Jason Jensen, reviewed their conceptual plan with residents. First reviewing the old plan, prior to the additional land purchase and County gift, then presenting the newest concept, including the expansion parcels.

The new concept plan includes: a 17,000 sq. ft. new center, located to the north east, two tennis courts, 122 parking spaces, walkways, four covered picnic areas with grills, fishing piers, docks, a kayak and canoe launch, community gardens, a rooftop terrace, two dog parks to accommodate large and small dogs, and added green buffers and parking for beach access to the Town’s current beach access.

Wannemacher and Jensen said they, at the Town’s request, are looking at both rehabbing the existing structure and demolition.

“We are doing our due diligence to bring the building into compliance or if cost wise it is better to demolish.  Bringing it up to current code may prove too costly,” said Wannemacher. “If it has to go we get more green space, if it is feasible to rehab it then there will be extra space in that building.”

One resident said he travels up to Anna Maria Island’s community center several times a week to play pickleball and he and his wife would like to be able to start playing pickleball on Longboat Key.

Pickleball is a racquet sport which combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. The sport is played on a court with the same dimensions as a doubles badminton court. The net is similar to a tennis net, but is mounted two inches lower. The game is played with a hard paddle and a polymer whiffle ball. The game is fast growing in popularity.

Jensen assured residents that the community center’s flexible interior space could be used to anything from pickleball to fine dinner parties.

Brown said that the approximate $7,000,000 price tag will not actually be a hard cost to the Town. The County’s infrastructure surtax will fund a portion of the center, as well as the $2 million due from the Key Club when it redevelops.

“We either have the money or it’s coming. We are not requesting to add taxes, the money is coming from other sources,” said Brown.

Susan Goldfarb of the Longboat Key Education Center said she wants to be included and involved. Her concern is that for 26 years the education center has been enriching the lives of over 4,000 Longboat Key residents and she doesn’t want this to take away from the Education Center’s commitment to the community.

Goldfarb wanted assurance that the Education Center wouldn’t be at risk.

Brown said,” We see you as part of this.”

“Can you put that in writing,” Goldfarb joked.

“We are not trying to go into business. We are trying to provide a place where you can provide services and functions that you may not be able to hold at your current location,” said Brown.

One resident wanted the community center to provide opportunities for baby boomers. He sees them as the people Longboat should be attracting.

“They are high-tech, they like the beach, and they like to be active. We need to design this with them in mind. They are our future residents, they are the new property buyers.”

One resident asked sarcastically if he missed the referendum on this. He said, “I don’t think this Town is ready for this, it will be a main draw, causing traffic jams, bringing people from Sarasota. They will be using parking spots to get on our beach.”

Wannemacher responded, “Community centers draw from their local community. This will be to enhance the lives of Longboaters.”

A second public meeting is scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, at the Recreation Center.