St. Armands residents hone long-term, community-based vision

When St. Armands Key residents met last year for their annual get-together, they naturally zeroed in on what needed to get done to further the Key's recovery from the 2024 hurricanes. This year, in a presentation led by St. Armands Key Residents Association President Chris Goglia, they took a long-term look at their vision for the area's development.

Members met March 3 at the Sarasota Yacht Club to socialize, dine and review the state of the Key.

The discussion comes on the heels of a visioning session some 160 people recently attended to share what they wanted for the future.

Goglia summarized that in the next 20 years, residents would like to see St. Armands' charm and scale preserved, stormwater and flooding issues fixed, traffic improved and the entire area beautified.

The hope for flooding relief may come sooner than that, though.

Dinner attendees shared their excitement for the $13.5 million allocated for storm mitigation projects on St. Armands Key.

Goglia thanked residents who campaigned for the funding in December, from prominent business owners on the Circle to elected officials and more.

He gave particular credit to County Commissioner Mark Smith for working with his colleagues to help St. Armands.

For this year's "Big Issue" to discuss, Goglia turned to a debate that started in 1969.

He revisited concerns about rezoning on St. Armands Circle, and how overdevelopment may affect the area's charm, history and sense of place — not to mention the effects on already limited parking availability and traffic chokepoints.

The concern about overdevelopment, particularly regarding "hotel houses," is not new. Goglia turned to a 2021 survey that showed 90% of responding association members were at least somewhat concerned about these houses, and 83% were very or extremely concerned.

"Eventually, the city passed its vacation rental ordinance that didn't get rid of them but at least slowed down the number being built," he said to audience applause.

Development concerns arose again a year later with the proposal to increase commercial building heights — an idea the city voted down Nov. 21, 2022.

"We thought we were done with this and would never have to deal with it again," Goglia said. "No. Because three years later, this exact thing is back."

He believes if short-term rentals are permitted across St. Armands Circle, it will become the "Wild West" of tourism-centric development.

Goglia shared his hope that the barrier islands could find more ways to mindfully grow together with a focus on community, perhaps under the moniker "ArmaLido."

"It basically acknowledges that these areas are right next to each other," he said. "Together, we are one. ... All of this contributes to growing the sense of community that I've embraced."

Goglia announced Mike Adkinson and Mari Lynn Cheatham as this year's recipients of the Community Impact Award, selected by the board of directors.

"They voted, unanimously, to recognize the people behind this ArmaLido concept," Goglia said.

While board membership remained the same, the association did vote to name Heather Herr as chair of a new beautification committee. Returning are Goglia as president, Chuck Haff as vice president, Glenn McPeak as treasurer and Kathy Beam as secretary.

Fellow board members include Hugh Fiore as past president, Bob Kelly, Diane Kaslow, Cindy Masingill, Herr, Joyce Hart and Bill Schey.

For more information about membership, visit StArmands.org.