Key construction reaches five-year high

Construction on the Key has reached a five-year high, with 1,331 building permits issued by the town in fiscal 2015 — 35% more than in fiscal 2012, when building permits reached a five-year low of just 985 permits. In 2015, 1,331 building permits were issued, with 28 for new construction.

Longboat Key Director of Planning, Zoning and Building Alaina Ray said her department currently has a part-time consultant who works approximately 24 hours per week to process plans and perform inspections. Soon, the town will need these services for an average of 40 hours per week.

New construction permits spiked in 2014, with 31 projects that had an average value of $1.6 million. 

That increase reflects the fact that three major projects — Aria and Infinity condominiums and Zota Beach Resort — came online that year.

Here, the Longboat Observer reports the latest on those three projects.