Sarasota County to press ahead with review of hotel proposals on Siesta Key
SIESTA KEY – Three developers want to fundamentally change long-held intensity and density requirements on Siesta Key for their future hotel projects. Two want to drastically change height requirements on the barrier island.
On Tuesday, Sarasota County Commissioners approved the first phase of the process to potentially make that a reality by approving what’s called an “out of cycle” review of the comprehensive plan, the county’s long-range growth map.
This essentially fast-tracks a review of the county’s long range planning documents because it is done outside of the county’s typical review process.
Siesta Key residents again argued for hours Monday night over a proposal for a new hotel just south of Siesta Village, which is one of three projects Siesta residents oppose.
Developers proposed three hotel projects for Siesta Key, which, if approved, could have long-term implications to Sarasota County’s density and transient accommodation regulations. The projects are:
A proposal by attorney Gary Kompothecras to build a seven-story, 120-room hotel and a five-story parking garage along Old Stickney Point Road and Peacock Road;
Siesta Key Beach Resort and Suites owner Mike Holderness’ proposal to increase his property from 55 to 170 rooms; and