The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Page 1

Winning Benz. 7

Beach guards. 12

All for kids. 16-17 JUNE 7, 2017 FREE

VOLUME 25, NO. 32

The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992 AsTheWorldTerns keep an eye on traffic. 6 Expect traffic delay from pipeline project. 2 Westbay heats up exchange with city. 3 AC costs heat up BB. 4 Center debt soars. 4 Daiquiri Deck develops on Bridge Street. 5

Op-Ed

Opinions. 6

Meetings

Government order. 8 ‘Mumbo jumbo.’ 8 Full speed ahead on new marina. 9

Happenings Things to do. 10-11

Memorial Day parking problems, military remembered. 12-13 Scholars. Year-end. 14-15 AMIP hosts Snooks Adams Day. 16-17

Gathering.

18

Beans take root. 19

Cops & Court.

20-21

The turtle beat. 22 Missing song. 23 8-10 division soccer champs. 24

Catch of a lifetime. 25 Biz news. 26 Classifieds. 28

Traffic study underway: Early data reviewed

Let summer begin …

By Bianca Benedí Islander Reporter The Florida Department of Transportation barrier island traffic study began without ceremony in late May. It got underway with a steering committee meeting May 23 at Longboat Key Town Hall. The steering committee includes mayors and public works employees, engineering and planning departments from Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, Longboat Key, Bradenton and Sarasota and Manatee counties. The committee reviewed some of the preliminary data already collected on traffic flow to and within Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key. Leigh Holt, a planning manager for the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, said presenters put forward their proposals for future traffic solutions. Project manager Frank Domingo discussed how technological solutions could be implemented, including proposals for variable message boards that could tell drivers how many parking spaces are available in beach parking lots, or show motorists which bridge, on Cortez Road or Manatee Avenue, has a shorter commute. “They had observed that sometimes traffic would be backed up for miles on Manatee, but going smoothly on Cortez,” Holt said. Technology would also be key to collecting data. Domingo said the DOT would use Bluetooth-enabled devices to collect “origindestination data” about people’s travel. The study will be conducted in three phases with Phase I a review of available studies and proposals for island transportation in order to compile an accurate picture of island traffic. The second phase will involve collecting the Bluetooth data and compiling an accurate image of the island-key traffic flow. The final phase will involve completing a transportation management plan and developing improvement recommendations. Two public workshops will be held at the end of each phase, on the north and PLEASE SEE trAffiC PAGE 2

ZAGAT “Top Restaurants in America”

941-778-6444 www.BeachBistro.com

www.islander.org

Jubilant fifth-graders throw up their arms in celebration as the last bell of the 2016-17 school year sounds May 31 at Anna Maria Elementary in Holmes Beach. While these students will head off to middle school, AME classes will resume Thursday, Aug. 10. See more school news, pages 14-15. Islander Photo: Sandy Ambrogi

DEP: House built on water on state’s land

By Kathy Prucnell Islander Reporter A house on pilings that appeared in Sarasota Bay within a stone’s throw of Cortez was built on state-owned submerged lands. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced the title determination in a May 31 email to The Islander. The DEP is in a fact-finding stage, trying to set up a meeting with Raymond Guthrie, and prepare a “compliance assistance offer” — the typical first step when the DEP finds a possible environmental violation, according to media spokeswoman Shannon Herbon. He will be given a deadline to arrange a meeting with the DEP. Raymond Leslie Guthrie Jr., also known as Junior, and his partner in the waterfront development, Capt. Tom Mora, told The

Islander in mid-May that they built the structure that stands near the docks of A.P. Bell Fish Company. Mora said it’s for storage and a workshop, while Guthrie said he would use it for seagrass experiments. DEP inspected the site May 25. After the site visit, the agency determined the structure was built on state submerged lands, “which requires certain authorizations,” according to Herbon. After the parties meet — no date had been set as of The Islander press time — and assuming a violation is identified, the DEP will determine what Guthrie-Mora will need to do to remedy the violation. The DEP is unaware of the building’s owner having any permits, according to Herbon. South of the Cortez Bridge — a stone’s throw from the A.P. Bell Fish Co. docks — a house on pilings has emerged on what the state claims are state-owned submerged lands in Sarasota Bay. Islander Photo: Kathy Prucnell

Crafted Cocktails

941-213-9926

www.DoctorsOfficeAMI.com

Florida Trend “Best New” Restaurant

941-778-0411 www.eathereflorida.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, June 7, 2017 by The Anna Maria Islander Newspaper - Issuu