- November 16, 2024
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Canal dredging, environmental protection, flooding and sea level rise and traffic concerns were a few of the items on the Longboat Key organization wish lists for Town Commission consideration ahead of their April 17 strategic planning retreat.
Representatives of five organizations stood before commissioners April 3 to go over what they believe should be prioritized in discussion at the commission’s strategic planning retreat April 17 as part of the town’s annual Goals and Objectives meeting. These organizations included the Sleepy Lagoon Homeowners Association, Longboat Key Green Team, Longboat Key Turtle Watch, LBK North Board and Longbeach Village Neighborhood.
The Federation of Longboat Key Condominiums and the Longboat Key Garden Club did not attend the in-person meeting, but had previously submitted their comments for commission review and consideration.
Their comments along with results of the town’s annual citizen satisfaction survey serve commissioners as a guide for priorities for the coming year.
“It’s a critical part of our planning,” Mayor Ken Schneier said. “The goals and objectives (meeting) is an opportunity for key groups on the island to let us know in writing and verbally what is important to them.”
Much of the group’s comments had similar priorities as they all look to improve the barrier island and prevent future problems.
A number of the organizations that submitted and presented comments to the commission asked for them to continue work to move forward canal dredging efforts. Representatives further iterated the importance of navigability as water recreation is a key amenity on the barrier island.
“Canals are an integral part of Longboat Key’s character,” Sleepy Lagoon Homeowners Association President John Connollly said. “They are frequently utilized as a method of transportation and recreation for many of Longboat Key’s homeowners and visitors. Having navigable canals maintains property values and improves the quality of life on Longboat Key.”
A townwide dredging program is already in the works, but representatives asked the commission to consider dredging canals in particularly bad shape before the program was instituted. The last time a townwide dredge was completed was in 2003 and only included about 30 canals. The dredging program would include all 81 canals in the town’s inventory.
Pete Rowan, who spoke on behalf of the Longbeach Village Neighborhood, asked the commission to give thought to dredging Bishops and Stone Crabs Bayou ahead of the program.
A report given at the town’s March 20 workshop estimated early 2025 as the earliest the town would be able to implement a townwide ongoing canal dredging program.
Comments from the LBK Green Team focused solely on environmental protection efforts. Examples of what the group was asking the town to consider include:
President of the Longboat Key Turtle Watch Tim Thurman mostly used his comments to commend the town on the efforts already in place that protect the town’s sea turtle population. He did ask that the town look into measures to manage raccoon and coyote populations.
“Trash, and access to it, seems to be a basis for increasing populations of animals that cause damage to many sea turtle nests, as well as other issues for residents and guests on the island,” Thurman said.
As conditions warm across the globe, prioritizing flooding and sea level rise solutions is important to the town and its residents. Flooding is already a pressing issue on the island particularly during the rainy season or high tide cycles.
A study was recently completed by Kimley Horn on behalf of the town regarding drainage issues in the Sleepy Lagoon and Buttonwood Harbour neighborhoods. APTIM Environmental and Infrastructure completed a townwide study on potential effects of sea level rise. Both studies have gone before the Town Commission for review and recommendations moving forward were provided.
Connolly asked the town to continue working toward ways to fund and implement recommendations provided by both studies such as raising roads and installing tidal valves. His written comments stated that implementing the recommendations will directly impact the safety and evacuation ability of about 227 properties in the Sleepy Lagoon neighborhood alone.
Each of the organizations that spoke at the April 3 meeting had similar objectives in hopes of solving a problem before it worsens.
While there is little that the commission has control over when it comes to the pains of seasonal traffic, organizations further emphasized the importance of building the roundabout at Broadway and Gulf of Mexico Drive and the mini roundabouts on Broadway Street to control speed and help with the flow of traffic.
Pete Rowan, who spoke on behalf of the Longbeach Village Neighborhood, further explained the neighborhood’s need and support of both projects.
Police presence during particularly bad bouts of traffic and resident alerts of backups were pitched for consideration.
“We encourage the Town Commission to make all reasonable efforts to engage the state government in the resolution of the congestion of the available paths of ingress and egress for our island through such measures as traffic signals and police presence,” The Federation of Longboat Key Condominiums wrote in their submitted comments.
Traffic issues, while worse during season, have been a particular headache for residents as work is being done on both ends of the barrier island. On the south end, the U.S. 41 at Gulfstream Avenue roundabout was only recently deemed completed, but still has intermittent lane closures as final touches are placed on the project and users learn how to navigate the circle. On the north end, Bradenton Beach is currently undergoing a sewer line replacement.
The LBK North Board asked the commission to consider the use of water taxis as an additional form of transportation to both the mainland and Anna Maria Island.
