In Brief

+ Key Club to re-file its renovation plan
Longboat Key Club and Resort General Manager Michael Welly said the club will re-file its $400 million Islandside renovation application by June 1, omitting any renovations to property the club does not own, mainly Longboat Club Road.

Welly said The Longboat Key Association, which owns Longboat Club Road, did not want to join the club in making aesthetic improvements to the road or the clubhouse, so the gatehouse will be moved closer to Gulf of Mexico Drive.

The application was deemed incomplete by Planning, Zoning and Building Director Monica Daigle last month because not all of the property owners had signed off on the application.

+ Town letter causes a stir on Longboat
A letter from Mayor Lee Rothenberg dated April 23 is creating a stir among some Longboat Key homeowner associations and Rod Warner, chair of the Metropolitan Planning Commission Citizens Advisory Committee.

Rothenberg’s letter was sent to area homeowners association presidents and expressed concern about the city of Sarasota’s proposal to lower the speed limit on U.S. 41 from 45 mph to 30 mph along the bayfront.

The letter invites the associations to combine efforts with the town to maintain the current traffic pattern.
Warner, who received the letter because he is a board member of the San Remo homeowners association, says Rothenberg disregards other factors of the proposal, such as modern roundabouts.

“Mayor Rothenberg is discounting the city’s efforts to date to assuage Longboat Key’s concerns and ignoring all the data available to him that demonstrate what’s proposed smoothes and speeds traffic flow,” Warner said.

The letter has also confused some Longboat Key homeowners association presidents, because it states that “as residents and taxpayers of the city of Sarasota,” it is important that associations review the proposals.

+ Chemical fire explodes at Florikan
Longboat Key resident Ed Rosenthal, owner of Sarasota-based Florikan Quality Fertilizer Products, received a scare Sunday, April 26, when a chemical fire occurred in the business’s outdoors polymer-coating facility, located at 1579 Barber Road. The cause of the fire is being investigated. No one was injured, and there is only minor structural damage to property. The fire was contained within one hour of its occurrence due to extensive sprinkler systems.

+ Clarification
In the Thursday, April 23 edition, The Longboat Observer incorrectly stated that Zoning Board of Adjustment member Phineas Alpers had decided not to apply for a new term on the zoning board. Alpers will vie for an open Planning and Zoning Board seat to be selected at the Monday, May 4 Town Commission meeting. If not selected, Alpers can decide to remain on the zoning board until his term expires May 11, 2011.

+ Meetings & Agendas
• Town Commission Regular Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, May 4.
All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.