Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Concrete plant releasing ‘pungent gas smell’ in Sarasota County, notice says

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/co...46a528ab&ei=36

A concrete plant is releasing a “pungent gas smell” in Sarasota County, according to a Pollution Notice from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The smell was reported by a resident to the DEP at about 9:35 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the notice.

The smell is coming from an area off of Gene Green Road, according to the DEP.

No other information was immediately available.

Pungent smell has Venice neighbors concerned — here's what we know


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDw1pdAGiDs

VENICE, Fla. — The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is looking into a report of a "pungent gas smell" coming from a concrete plant in Sarasota County.

The neighbors who live in the Toscana Isles subdivision located near Gene Green Road and Knight's Trail say they've been dealing with a lot more than the odor from several plants next door.

A sound barrier wall was built as a buffer between the neighborhood and a major industrial zone, but concerned neighbors say it's not doing much when it comes to keeping out noise, air, and light pollution from concrete and asphalt plants on the other side.

"There's three major factories here, from cement plants to asphalt plants and then there's also a third plant which is a rock crusher," Venice resident Vance Delong said.

Several neighbors said all of that, plus the several trucks that go up and down Gene Green Road, make their home environment a very noisy and uncomfortable place.

"In the morning when they start up, they use heat in whatever process they're doing and it creates a smell and odor," neighbor John Herlihy said.

Herlihy said he lives several streets from the buffer wall and doesn't get heavily impacted except when the weather plays a role.

"We can see the smoke from the plant in the morning and if the wind is in our direction we will get the odor," he said.

"Especially with the asphalt, it's acrid and it becomes almost unbearable. It burns the eyes and nose and you have to go inside or I oftentimes just leave," Delong said.

https://www.wtsp.com/amp/article/new...7-cbe516728867

[wondermint2]

Prime downtown Sarasota spot leased for high-end whiskey-centric eatery

For full article:

https://www.businessobserverfl.com/n...entric-eatery/

A high-end Fort Lauderdale bar and restaurant company, Damn Good Hospitality, is planning its debut in Sarasota with a fine-dining, whiskey-infused location in a coveted second-floor spot on Main Street downtown.

The company intends to open a restaurant dubbed Warren in an 11,500-square-foot space on the second floor of two connected buildings in Five Points. The ground-floor tenants are sports apparel and sneaker retailer Fit2Run and Sunburn, a medical cannabis dispensary.

Guests will enter Warren through a large lobby/foyer area on Pineapple Avenue, according to a statement, while the second-floor space is along Main Street and Pineapple Avenue. That floor, the release adds, offers “sweeping views of the Five Points intersection and park.”

The owner of the building, 1400 and 1410 Main Street, is Chris Brown, who owns several other properties and restaurants in Sarasota and on Siesta Key. Brown recently acquired The Boatyard on Siesta Key.

Kevin Robbins with Robbins Real Estate, who handled the lease transaction with his father, Loyd Robbins of Loyd Robbins & Co., says Brown held out for several years to sign a lease for the space. They considered gyms, architecture firms, engineering firms and even a few private clubs, Robbins says.

Damn Good Hospitality and Warren, with its night-club sleek and swanky vibe, was the right fit. The Sarasota Warren, expected to open in late summer 2025, is the third one from Damn Good Hospitality, following others in Delray and Naples, according to the statement.

[wondermint2]

Companion bills in Florida Legislature call for FDEP to make decisions on requests for shoreline construction in coastal counties

Goal is to prevent ‘adverse environmental effects’ and provide for greater property protection during storm events

For full article:

https://sarasotanewsleader.com/compa...stal-counties/

In December 2023, Florida Rep. Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota, has introduced a bill in the Legislature that, if passed, would take away the authority of the Sarasota County Commission and other local government bodies to approve special exceptions or variances for construction on the coast.

The authority would be delegated instead to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), the bill says. It would apply to all coastal counties and municipalities.

House Bill 1079 explains, “Exceptions to locally established coastal construction zoning and building codes may not be granted unless previously approved by [FDEP] before December 1, 2023.”

A legislative staff analysis of McFarland’s House Bill 1079 explains, “DEP regulates coastal construction to protect Florida’s beaches and dunes from imprudent construction that can jeopardize the stability of the beach-dune system, accelerate erosion, provide inadequate protection to upland structures, endanger adjacent properties, or interfere with public beach access.

Coastal construction is defined as “any work or activity likely to have a material physical effect on existing coastal conditions or natural shore and inlet processes,” the bill adds.

Over the past several months, the Sarasota County Commission has approved controversial Coastal Setback Variances for construction on Siesta Key, which residents fought because the sites had been documented to have been underwater or bordering on the Gulf of Mexico in years past.

Most recently, on Nov. 28, 2023, the board members voted 3-1 to grant a variance to the owner of property located at 168 Beach Road, so she could build a single-family home that would stand 208.25 feet seaward of the county’s Gulf Beach Setback Line (GBSL). That line was established in 1979 to protect dunes and other beach habitat, which, in turn, protect landward structures in the event of storm surge and other flooding events.

[wondermint2]

Assistant county zoning administrator raises ‘stepback’ issue in formal comments on new plans for high-rise hotel on Siesta Key’s Calle Miramar

Issue has been controversial since 2021, when County Commission ended up approving two high-rise hotels for island

For full article:

https://sarasotanewsleader.com/assis...calle-miramar/

In early January, upon review of a preliminary application with revised plans for a high-rise hotel on Siesta Key’s Calle Miramar, Sarasota County’s assistant zoning administrator questioned whether the project team had tried to qualify Beach Road as a street yard in an attempt to circumvent the county’s requirement for stepping back the building height as it exceeds the county maximum on the site, The Sarasota News Leader has learned.

[wondermint2]

Moran, Rainford rebuff Smith’s call for support of bills in Legislature that would allow individuals to build homes higher above floodplains than state code requires

Sarasota City Commission supports Arroyo’s proposal for city regulations permitting higher ‘freeboard’

For full article:

https://sarasotanewsleader.com/moran...code-requires/

While Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith has been unable to win support from his colleagues for regulations that would allow property owners to construct new homes higher above floodplain levels, Sarasota City Commissioner Erik Arroyo last week did gain unanimous approval of his fellow board members to direct city staff to work on a zoning text amendment to that effect.

The focus is freeboard, which a 2023 county staff report explained is “an extra margin of protection that requires the lowest floor of a building to be one (or more) feet above Base Flood Elevation (BFE).”

The same report defined “Base Flood” as “a regulatory standard commonly referred to as a ‘100-year’ flood or ‘1% chance’ flood. Base Flood Elevation is the highest elevation of the water surface associated with Base Flood,” the report added.

In November 2023, Smith expressed concern about new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood insurance rate maps, which he believed could put new residential construction in jeopardy from storm surge.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota County Feb 15 Weekly Crime Report: 682 Incidents and 17 Crime Stories

For full article & crime map:

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/33351...-crime-stories

During the last week, Sarasota County recorded a total of 682 crime cases, a significant number of which were classified as 'Suspicious Situation' with a staggering 342 cases. This category alone accounted for approximately 50% of the total crimes reported.

Other notable categories included 'Other' with 71 cases, 'Disturbance' with 61 cases, and 'Domestic Related' incidents accounting for 47 cases.

Lesser, but still significant, numbers were noted in categories such as 'Theft' with 33 cases, 'Assault' with 31 cases, 'Arrest' with 28 cases, 'Burglary' with 26 cases, 'Vandalism' with 21 cases, and 'Trespass' with 20 cases.

The least reported crimes were 'Hit & Run' and 'Robbery,' each with just a single case reported.

The data underscores the prevalence of 'Suspicious Situation' incidents in the place, pointing to a potential area of focus for law enforcement.

[wondermint2]

Top 12 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Englewood, Punta Gorda

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/sarasota-f...od-punta-gorda

As we've said before, this is arguably the busiest weekend of the year here in the Sarasota area, with multiple annual events making their return, including a three-day music and motorcycle festival featuring a national classic rock or country act headlining each night. (It also marks the return of music festival season here in Florida, with at least two others taking place elsewhere in the state this weekend.)

If neither of those genres (or roaring motorcycles) are your speed, don't worry, as there are plenty of other notable concerts to choose from, spanning blues, jazz, folk, pop-rock, emo and ska, including Grammy-winning or nominated acts. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.

[wondermint2]

How a Florida retail chain competes with big brands. What’s next for the department store?

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/bradenton-...partment-store

One of Florida’s largest and oldest companies, the Bealls national department store chain, is growing despite economic challenges that have changed the dynamics of retail.

Bealls started from humble beginnings on Bradenton’s Old Main Street in 1915, when 22-year-old founder Robert M. Beall opened the Dollar Limit store .

Since then, Bealls Inc. has grown to 658 stores, including Bealls Florida, bealls, Home Centric, Rugged Earth Outfitters and Reel Legends, in 23 states.

Bealls Inc. has plans to open 22 more stores this fiscal year.

The Bradenton-based company has 15,000 emplpoyees across the company. In Manatee County alone, there are 2,300 workers in its retail stores, distribution center and corporate office.

Here’s what to know about the company and the changes ahead:

[wondermint2]

Weekend Sounds: February 16-18

For full article:

https://thebradentontimes.com/storie...ry-16-18,74337

It's another weekend, and you know what that means. If you guessed another great lineup of local, talented musicians in Manatee, Sarasota, and surrounding counties, you would be correct. Check out The Bradenton Times Weekend Sounds to see what bands you can catch at your favorite venues.

[wondermint2]

Local Traffic Alert: Construction and Events Impacting Manatee and Sarasota Counties for Week of February 18, 2024

For the full list:

https://www.mympo.org/blog/traffic-w...bruary-18-2024

Motorists are reminded to wear safety belts and drive with caution, courtesy, common sense, and patience as they travel through work zones. Remember, speeding fines are doubled in work zones.

As a reminder, travelers can visit www.FL511.com or dial “511” from their phone to learn about traffic conditions on major roadways across the state. If you know before you go, you can plan accordingly and save time and money.