Siesta Beach Access 12 project approved

The Sarasota County Commission approved a $140,000 Siesta Key Beach Access project Wednesday that some residents worry is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

The project, which involves modifying Beach Access 12 on the Key between two condominium complexes, allows for a variance request to allow trucks to gain access to the beach mainly in times of emergencies.

The resolution and variance petition will allow for the construction and excavation of some of the 25-foot narrow access point, which sits 300 feet to the south of the intersection of Old Stickney Point Road and Midnight Pass Road.

The project will stabilize the soil in the area to allow for trucks to drive onto and off the beach to clean up abnormally large amounts of seaweed and to handle cases of red tide algae blooms quickly and cleanup after tropical storm or hurricane events. Vehicles could also utilize the access for sea-turtle monitoring, shorebird monitoring and marine life activity that could include abnormal fish kills that come ashore.

Although commissioners approved the project, they made it known they don’t want trucks using the access points except for emergency purposes only. They also stressed the project must not alter the existing environment, which is already being hampered to build up the area to be able to handle heavy trucks.

A 3,200-square-foot area of the Beach Access will be reinforced with fill and crushed shell to handle the trucks, which concerns Commissioner Nora Patterson, who is also a Siesta Key resident.

“We have residents concerned about the drainage of the beach and we’re spending a lot of money in other areas to improve drainage and eliminate runoff in the Gulf,” Patterson said. “Crushed shell is less porous than sand and that concerns me.”

Staff said the shell will not create any drainage or runoff and the system being installed will include filter fabrication on both sides of the shell being put down.

A staff presentation showed the project gives the county “the ability to effectively, efficiently and safely mange emergency red algae and storm debris, which is important to our economy in the area of Crescent Beach.”

Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Association President Lourdes Ramirez said the project, though, wasn’t necessary.

“We already have a system in place for trucks coming off the public beach,” Ramirez said. “It seems like more and more tax dollars are being doled out for a cost that’s not worth it.”

Although Patterson said she understood the concerns expressed, she voted for the project.

“I realize it has been several years since we had red algae and massive fish kills,” Patterson said. “But when it happens, people want it cleaned up and they want it cleaned up fast to get their paying customers back on the beach.

The project is expected to be complete by Nov. 1.