County buys $20,000 Siesta Key sand lots

The county acquired five lots on Siesta Key Beach Tuesday, March 24 at public auction at the Sarasota County Courthouse. The lots had been held in an estate.

The land used to be submerged in the Gulf. However, since 2011, sand has been building up, widening a previously non-existent part of the beach just northwest of the Terrace condominiums. Located just off of Beach Access 3B, approximately 770 feet of sand has accrued since 1948.

Sarasota County commissioners approved up to $250,000 to bid on the parcels, but the parcels only cost 8% of that allocation, which came from the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Acquisition Fund for neighborhood parklands. Brie Ondercin, land acquisition coordinator for the county, said the zoning of the lots is marine, and undevelopable.

“We got a good deal because we were able to protect the beach for $20,000,” Ondercin said.

The county has no plans to change the lots, a total of 47,209 square feet.

Under state law, formerly sub-aquatic land that is above the water line for 19.6 years could fall under state ownership. The state could come back and take these lots from the county, Ondercin said, but she doesn’t anticipate that happening. The county had the same goal as the state in acquiring the land: environmental protection and public access.

The sand accruing on Siesta Key’s western-most point is caused by the flow patterns of Big Pass. Sand down-drifting from Lido Key is collected in a large sandbar right off of Siesta. Sand catches on the current between Siesta Key and the sandbar and is deposited on the shoreline.