News Briefs

+ Three crashes reported on GMD
The operator of a scooter was seriously injured in one of three crashes that occurred shortly before 10 a.m. Monday on Gulf of Mexico Drive.

The first crash occurred at the intersection of Outrigger Lane and Gulf of Mexico Drive, when a driver failed to brake and collided with the vehicle in front of him, causing the second driver to hit a town vehicle driven by a Longboat Key Public Works employee. The middle driver sustained minor injuries.

As traffic on Gulf of Mexico Drive snarled, the scooter operator attempted to bypass traffic in a bicycle lane and struck an SUV turning onto Schooner Lane. The scooter driver was taken to Blake Medical Center, in Bradenton, with serious injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening.

A Sarasota police officer responded to the scene to determine whether Longboat Key police were in need of assistance. When he learned they didn’t need help, he attempted to turn his vehicle around — but accidentally struck a street sign.

The bumper of the vehicle was torn off, but there were no injuries.

+ ULI prepares for first meeting
The Urban Land Institute Implementation Advisory Committee has been formed, and its first meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, at Longboat Key Town Hall.

The committee includes Mayor Jim Brown, Planning and Zoning Board Chairwoman B.J. Bishop, Tom Freiwald, Larry Grossman, Roger Leibin, David Novak and Jered Whitehead.

+ Town prepares for state groin challenge hearing
The town is preparing for an upcoming state hearing in response to a challenge to place three groins on the north end of the Key.

On Oct. 10, former Manatee County Commissioner Joe McClash filed a second amended petition stating the groins will have adverse impacts on marine life and the coastal area.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection determined the amended petition had merit and is forwarding the objections to the Division of Administrative Hearing/

The amended petition puts the permit on hold again as FDEP reviews the petition.

Meetings & Agendas
Town Commission Regular Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2.

Town Commission Regular Workshop — 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11.

Planning and Zoning Board Regular Meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17.

All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, unless otherwise noted.