Siesta Isles Association seeks to uproot county’s order

The Siesta Isles Association won two Neighborhood Initiative Program grants from Sarasota County to cover about half of the costs to remove eight trees and plant 10 royal palms and other Florida-friendly plants at two of its five entrances.

But the county told the association to stop work on the $40,000 project almost immediately after it began mid-September.

“The day we started,” Siesta Isles Association President Tony Romanus said, “it started to unravel.”

County ordinances only allow the removal of trees from public rights of way via a tree permit,  granted only if trees are damaged, diseased or pose a navigational or safety hazard.

Now, the association is appealing to Sarasota County for the right to proceed with the project in the 298-lot subdivision nestled between Midnight Pass Road and Beach Road.

Neighborhood Initiative grant applications are typically reviewed by “numerous county staff” and the Sarasota County University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) extension for compliance with Florida-friendly standards, according to a memo from Sarasota County Administrator Tom Harmer’s office. 

Although the memo states the application wasn’t flagged for environmental review, it states the applicant agrees to be responsible for any required permits.

Romanus is hopeful commissioners, upon hearing the association’s appeal, will grant a tree permit or determine none is required at their Dec. 8 meeting.

If county commissioners do not grant the appeal, Romanus said, it will go back to planning stages.

Romanus said the project seemed to have energized his membership. Residents donated money and committed approximately 250 volunteer hours.

“All we’re trying to do is make this better and try to make it more Florida-friendly,” Romanus said.

A county spokesman said that though the project does not meet the criteria for a tree permit, the board could determine a permit can be issued. 

"Sarasota County staff continue to work with the residents in an attempt to help them meet the goal of improving the aesthetics of their neighborhood."