News Briefs

+ County Commission OKs Shell Road parking plan
In a 3-2 vote Wednesday, the Sarasota County Commission approved a plan to renovate North Shell Road on Siesta Key to make parking at the popular beach access site more organized and easier for sheriff’s deputies to regulate.

The $30,627 renovations will create 17 parking spots along the road, which currently has no delineated parking spots, and will eliminate a pedestrian sidewalk to add six parallel park spots. North Shell Road is located off Higel Avenue on the north end of Siesta Key.

In May, the County Commission requested staff explore organized parking along North Shell Road due to reports parking there was unorganized and hard to enforce for sheriff’s deputies.

Nearby residents pushed for the move, claiming beachgoers were vandalizing their property, littering, excessively drinking, using illegal drugs, playing loud music and committing other acts of public indecency. Residents expressed concern over the lack of law-enforcement presence to enforce violations.

Public Works Transportation staff organized meetings with staff from Parks and Recreation, Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office, the Office of Neighborhood Services and residents to draft potential solutions.

County commissioners agreed changes were necessary, but were split on the size and shape of the project.

County staff proposed four options for commissioners to consider, ranging from 12 to 17 parking spots, and from $23,267 to $44,111 in cost.

Wednesday’s vote also eliminated planned parking spots at the intersection of Solymar Drive and North Shell Road.

+ FDOT nixes no right on red at Stickney Point Road
The “no right on red” sign at the intersection of Stickney Point Road and Midnight Pass Road has been removed and replaced by an electronic system that only prevents right turns if a pedestrian has pressed the crosswalk button.

In February, the Florida Department of Transportation changed the intersection’s signage to prevent right turns on red. The move created backlash from area residents complaining about traffic backups at the intersection.

The change was reversed April 3; a new pedestrian-activated system to prevent right turns is now in its place.

“The county had nothing to do with this and were probably caught as off-guard as we were,” said Siesta Key Association President Michael Shay at the group’s April 3 meeting, referring to FDOT’s original decision.

“But the county had everything to do in resolving it,” replied County Commissioner Nora Patterson, who attended the meeting.

Meetings & agendas
City Commission budget workshop — 2 p.m. Monday, April 14, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota

Downtown Improvement District meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 15, SRQ Media Studio, City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota

Sarasota County School Board meeting — 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, Landings Administrative Complex, 1980 Landings Blvd., Sarasota