News Briefs

+ Early voting begins March 10
Early voting for the town’s General Municipal Election will take place from March 10 through March 16, at Longboat Key Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road. Early-voting hours will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bring a picture ID with a signature. For information, contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 316-1999.

+ Bay Partner grant applications due March 1
Bay Partner Grant Projects applications are due by 4 p.m. Thursday, March 1. The grants are awarded to projects that focus on bay education and restoration and bay-friendly landscaping. Past Key recipients include the Windward Bay Condominium Association, which expanded its saltwater bioswale and added more native plants, and the Beachplace Association Inc., which expanded and upgraded its storm-water detention pond. For applications, visit sarasotabay.org.

+ IPOC, associations file their responses
The Islandside Property Owners Coalition and L’Ambiance and Sanctuary condominium association filed a response to the joint petition filed by the town and Longboat Key Club and Resort’s appeal of the writ of certiorari granted in the approval of the Key Club’s Islandside project. The response, filed Wednesday, Feb. 22, argues that the petitioners overstated the weight the court was required to give a local government’s interpretation of an ordinance and that the Circuit Court did not reweigh evidence when it did not accept the legal interpretation of the zoning code offered by the planning director and others.

+ Longboat Key building inspector to retire
Longboat Key Building Inspector John Fernandez will retire in April. Fernandez has worked for the Planning Zoning & Building Department for 16 years. He will be recognized for his service at a future Longboat Key Town Commission meeting.

Meetings & Agendas
• Town Commission Regular Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, March 5
• Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting — 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 8
• Code Enforcement Board Meeting — 10 a.m. Monday, March 12
• Town Commission Regular Workshop — 2 p.m. Thursday, March 15
All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.