Town targets trespassers at 360 North

Lacking a seawall, residents of 360 North regularly deal with the threat of encroaching tides. But  with the complex’s location next to the most popular beach access on Longboat Key, residents have been dealing more and more with encroaching beachgoers.

“I don’t necessarily want to profile teenagers or millennials, but they are a majority of the offenders,” said P.T. Buntin, who has owned his townhome on North Shore Road for nearly three decades. “And when confronted they tend to have an arrogance and sense of entitlement.”

The entrance to the complex sits 90 yards from the northern-most beach access on the Key, which connects to the popular Beer Can Island. But residents and town staff have noticed that beachgoers, unwilling to walk an extra 270 feet, instead cut through 360 North.

“I think the issue is that more parking was created along North Shore for beachgoers, and when they park along the road, they have to walk by our driveway in order to get to the beach access,” said 360 North Association President Bob Bunting (no relation to Buntin). “And it’s inviting.”

Further, vehicles frequently ignore parallel parking restrictions and pull into the condo’s grassy areas, which has resulted in broken sprinkler heads.

The town and Longboat Key Police Department have been meeting with Bunting to determine the best solution to prevent the frequent trespassing and parking issues.

“I think they’re very sympathetic to the issue,” Bunting said.

The town has already spent about $200 to erect at least three new signs mandating parallel parking and will pay another $2,500 to extend a chain-link fence 120 feet from the beach access to the condo’s gate, said Streets, Facilities and Parks and Recreation Manager Mark Richardson.

“We’re going to find the money somewhere in my budget,” Richardson said.

Longboat Key police technician Kevin Mimbs said the department hasn’t made any arrests related to trespassing, but the town has issued 116 parking citations on North Shore Road so far this year.

“We’re hoping some of those recommendations take care of the problem and make sure to maintain that quality of life we all want to enjoy,” said Deputy Chief Frank Rubino.

Buntin said he and other owners aren’t overly concerned about the sight of non-Longboaters trespassing through their neighborhood. It’s the aftermath of such encroachment that rankles them the most. Two years ago, a nonresident used a hose connected to Unit 4 and left the water running, resulting in 100,000 gallons of water use that month — while the resident was out of town.

“Not only is this a matter of privacy, it’s asset liability for property owners,” Buntin said.

Trespassers regularly urinate in bushes and mangroves, and residents must deal with the sight of spent beer cans, dirty diapers and other trash at the end of busy weekends, Buntin said. Several weeks ago, he confronted a group of trespassing teenagers, and the next day, a “No Trespassing” sign was missing.

“Obviously, I can’t be sure it was them,” Buntin said.

Town officials hope the extended fencing and additional signage discourage trespassers, because Richardson said opening up another public access closer to the parking spots may be problematic.

“There’s lots of public property, and there’s private property,” said Town Manager Dave Bullock. “We want to steer the beachgoers to the public property.”