Commission will update Comprehensive Plan

The Longboat Key Town Commission agreed to let its Planning and Zoning Board make revisions to its Comprehensive Plan at its regular workshop Thursday, Sept. 23.

Town attorney David Persson told the Town Commission a complete overhaul of the Comprehensive Plan is not needed.

“It’s the hope that the process gives more clarity to what you want this town to be at the end of the day,” Persson said.

An initial budget transfer of $50,000 will be made in November to help fund the cost of a review process expected to take at least a year to complete and cost more than $100,000 for consultant and meeting expenses.

A public meeting also will be held sometime in November to discuss the town’s updated Vision Plan. The accompanying video shows Vision Plan subcommittee chair Pat Zunz explaining to the commission why the group chose to include specific redevelopment suggestions in the Vision Plan.

The commission also heard a presentation from Florida Department of Transportation officials today at Town Hall on the number of signs along Gulf of Mexico Drive. FDOT officials agreed to work with town staff to reduce its signage along the island’s only major thoroughfare.

And the commission agreed on font sizes and styles for the town’s vacant wayfinding signs, which will provide direction for motorists soon. One wayfinding sign currently located near Bayfront Park may also be moved in front of Harry’s Continental Kitchens.

Also at its noon workshop today at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, the commission:

Forwarded to its Monday, Oct. 4 regular meeting for first reading:
• An ordinance that transfers $208,815.49 to the beach capital projects fund, which will close a special revenue account that’s no longer needed.

• An ordinance that provides consistency for public hearings notices and advertisements that deal with land use matters.

• An ordinance that ensures the town’s elections schedule complies with new Legislature requirements.

Forwarded to its Monday, Oct. 4 regular meeting for formal action:
• A resolution that allows the town to pay $46,725 in unanticipated Islandside public hearing expenses by using commission contingency funds.

• A resolution that adopts the current version of the Sarasota County Local Mitigation Strategy, which enables the town to be eligible for post disaster mitigation grant funds.

• A 2010-11 holiday schedule for town employees.

Confirmed:
• Delivery of a 2010 flood plain management plan that provides flood insurance discounts for town residents.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].