SIESTA KEY – Siesta Key residents have been battling the four proposed hotels developers are hoping to add to the island.
Residents of the Key say they’re not opposed to hotels coming to the area but are asking developers to follow the regulations already set in place.
If you’ve recently visited Siesta Key you may have noticed these signs along Higel Ave.
Known for its iconic beaches – developers are looking to add four new hotels to the already busy island. But residents of Siesta Key say the addition of the hotels could be detrimental to their small-town life.
“Even if you believe there should be a hotel, it doesn’t mean that everyone one who applies for a hotel should be able to have one,” said Neal Schleifer.
Schleifer, a Siesta Key resident, says some locals are worried the island’s unique character could be at risk.
“One of the points we’re making is what about the cumulative effects of having multiple hotels,” said Schleifer. “So in other words, even if you want a hotel on the key it doesn’t mean that every site that applies for one is appropriate and compatible for one.”
Right now, four hotel proposals are on the table for Siesta Key. Two of the proposals shatter both height and density restrictions that have been in place on the barrier island since the early 1990s.
“Our core concerns are essentially the by-right zoning on these properties. These particular two are proposing things that are far in excess of the existing zoning restrictions,” said Mark Spiegel, President of the Siesta Key Coalition.
One of the proposals near the south bridge on Old Stickney Point Road would bring a seven-floor hotel with up to 120 rooms. Currently, that 1.17-acre property is zoned for 30 rooms and should be no higher than 35 feet above Base Flood Elevation (BFE).
Another proposal near the village would bring an eight-story building — a three-floor parking garage topped with a five-floor hotel with 170 rooms. Under the barrier island’s current code, that 0.96-acre property is zoned for 25 rooms and should be no higher than 35 feet above BFE.
All of which would change the landscape of the key not only for residents on the island but for those living in mainland Sarasota County.
“This is a Sarasota County issue. If I’m a taxpayer in mainland Sarasota County those beaches are a resource of mine as well and I want to enjoy coming over on the weekend and accessing those beaches,” said Spiegel. “I don’t want to find one day because of the county allowed multiple high-density hotels that during peak season I can’t even get across the bridges.”
I attempted to reach out to the developers of two of the proposed hotels, but no one was immediately available for comment.
However, a planning commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday afternoon and SNN will be there to bring you the latest on this story.