Abandoned beach furniture will be confiscated

The understaffed Longboat Key Code Enforcement Department is responding to a complaint issued in September about beach furniture that has accumulated at the Gulfside Road public beach access at 6399 Gulfside Road.

Planning, Zoning and Building Director Monica Simpson said the town is working to educate residents about beach furniture being left on town-owned beach property, which is not allowed under town code or state statutes.

"Code enforcement will enforce beach furniture on public beach as lost or abandoned property," said Simpson, who said abandoned furniture will be tagged for five days before its confiscated and stored at Town Hall for 90 days.

Sleepy Lagoon residents, who have left beach furniture at the Gulfside Road beach access for years, were targeted in the complaint. However, Sleepy Lagoon Homeowners Association Reina Berman said the town should be aware that Sleepy Lagoon residents only account for one-third of the residents in the area that use the Gulfside Road beach access.

Simpson said Gulf-side property owners can review a copy of their land surveys to see what is deemed private beach and public beach.

"We will also be walking the beach around the public beach access areas to educate the public about beach furniture placement," Simpson said. "We are happy to meet with property owners and explain the process."

For more information, contact Simpson or Code Enforcement Officer Heidi Micale at 316-1966.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].