Longboat hires new planning, building, zoning chief

Allen Parsons, Sarasota County’s Planning Division Manager, is Longboat Key’s new Planning, Zoning and Building Director, according to a memo sent to town leaders from Town Manager Dave Bullock.

Parsons replaces Alaina Ray, who resigned in September to accept a similar role in Loudoun County, Va. She had been the town’s planning, zoning and building director since 2014.

Parsons has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geography from University of Oregon (1992) and Florida State (1996) and has worked in the private and public sectors.

He spent two years with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, eight years with the city of Sarasota, six years with the firm of WilsonMiller-Stantec and began working for Sarasota County in 2011.

He began in his current role with the county in 2014.

Parsons will begin work in Longboat Key on Nov. 1.

Parsons is the third Longboat Key supervisor hired from Sarasota County staff this summer.

In June, the town tapped County Administrator Tom Harmer to replace the retiring Bullock.

Isaac Brownman, who worked as the county’s public works director and county enginner, started as Longboat Key’s public works director in August, working alongside Juan Florensa until his planned retirement in early 2018.

Bullock himself was a county-government transplant, coming to Longboat Key in 2011 after 14 years as deputy county administrator.