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Residents urge Siesta Key beautification and safety as commissioners approve Family Promise funding
Summary
Siesta Key residents urged Sarasota County commissioners to fund beautification, safety and signage repairs following recent storms. Separately the board approved $86,100 for Family Promise to fund engineering work to remove a Venice site from FEMA flood maps so an affordable housing project can proceed.
Residents and community groups urged Sarasota County commissioners on March 11 to prioritize beautification, safety and signage upgrades on Siesta Key and elsewhere after storm damage. Commissioners heard a series of public comments from the Siesta Key Beautification Alliance and other residents describing damage to entryways, rights-of-way and pedestrian infrastructure and asking the county to evaluate funding and staff engagement for revitalization projects.
Natalie Gutwein, team leader of the Siesta Key Beautification Alliance, said the island remains a key tourism driver and asked the county to expand a prior directive to evaluate measures that would restore gateways, rights-of-way, pedestrian pathways and interstate signage. Catherine Luckner and other speakers asked the board to include safety upgrades during beautification efforts and noted many residents are still living with unrepaired storm damage.
During consent discussion the board pulled item 11 so Family Promise of South Sarasota County could present in person. Jennifer Faganbaum, executive director, requested $86,100 to pay an engineering firm for a conditional letter of map revision (CLOMR) and related work to remove a 2.5-acre Venice parcel from the FEMA floodplain so the organization can pursue affordable housing development. Faganbaum said the organization followed staff directions when making the request. Commissioner Knight moved to approve the funding and Commissioner Mast seconded; the board approved the request unanimously.
Why it matters: Siesta Key is an important local tourism and economic asset; beautification and safety projects affect visitor wayfinding, local commerce and public safety. The Family Promise funding is intended to enable a floodplain map change that would permit construction of affordable housing units, but it relies on engineering work and subsequent FEMA review.
Next steps: Chair asked staff to engage with the Siesta Key Alliance and other partners to explore project funding sources; Family Promise will proceed with engineering work supported by the approved funds.
