Café’s ‘tent’ coming down; fireworks going up
The latest Siesta Village business in the zoning code spotlight is Café Gabbiano in Davidson Plaza.
Owner Pietro Migliaccio told me last week that the tent – actually a series of connecting umbrellas – over the outdoor dining area will have to come down by Aug. 1. "We’re working on something right now," he said, to replace that means of sheltering guests from the elements.
He added, "It’s going to cost me $30,000 to $40,000" to make the change, but he plans to have the situation resolved by the end of August.
"Everybody loved it," he said of the billowy "ceiling." And through four years of storms, he added, the umbrellas never seemed to suffer any damage.
Months ago, I began following county e-mail exchanges about an allegation that Gabbiano’s had had only a temporary use permit for the umbrellas, and that permit long since had expired. Commissioner Joe Barbetta, especially, began querying the code enforcement staff about what was going on.
Finally, in May, Tina Crawford, the zoning administrator, wrote a detailed memo explaining the Gabbiano saga. I requested a copy of that memo from Rob Lewis, the county’s executive director of planning and development services, who readily made it available.
The following is a summary of events according to the memo.
In November 2003, Gabbiano’s received a building permit for its new 10-foot by 20-foot exterior deck; in February 2004, the certificate of occupancy was issued.
At some point in 2006, a Siesta Key code enforcement officer notified Pietro that he needed to obtain a building permit for the tent/umbrella structure. On March 31, 2006, a building permit was submitted to the county; a temporary use permit was approved by the fire marshal and zoning, but the permit never was picked up.
On July 13, 2007, the TUP expired. Then, in March of this year, a fellow named Jerry Johnson inquired about the TUP and its expired status. On March 23, Crawford spoke with John Lally, the Siesta code enforcement officer, about the Gabbiano situation. He indicated that the permit was not in the "closed" status that is typical for a permit that has been approved and issued. She then asked Lally to work with Helena Rattray, quality assurance specialist, the memo says, "to change the status to ‘closed’ instead of ‘expired.’ When John spoke with Helena, the sub-folder type was changed from TUP Temporary Tent to SE Tent Event and the status was changed from ‘Expired’ to ‘Closed.’"
Barbetta inquired on March 2 about the computer file notes for the TUP.
(His e-mail asked what the "SE" stood for; he originally was told it meant "Special Exception," he wrote in a May 11 e-mail. When he asked for the paperwork, however, he was told it meant "Special Event," which "would clearly mean that at the expiration of the TUP for that S.E., [the tent] would be removed. That TUP was 3 years ago!" he added in that May 11 e-mail to his fellow commissioners and other county officials.)
On April 3, Crawford spoke with Lally regarding the changes to the permit and, the memo says, "told him that the sub-folder type should not have been changed. Additionally, John advised Tina that the permit was never issued and that the permit status should be ‘expired.’ Tina then directed him to have Helena change permit status back to the original information.
"Rob Lewis, Executive Director, directed Helena that she was not to make any further changes to the computer file without his approval. No further changes have been made subsequent to that direction."
On April 16, Lewis had directed Crawford to provide him a written report on the chronology of the permitting events, as well as "methodology, and specific parties and their roles pertaining to any permitting or zoning actions," the memo says.
The memo concludes with the statement that a letter would be sent to Café Gabbiano explaining that a building permit application would have to be submitted for an accessory structure, with drawings and specifications "demonstrating compliance with Florida Building Code for the existing tents," or they would have to be removed.
Pietro’s major concern, he told me last week, is that the county should make "everybody obey the rules" on the key. "... There are many, many people in violation ...."
FARMERS’ MARKET PERMIT
On a happier zoning code note: On June 10, the Sarasota County Commission approved the renewal of a temporary use permit for one more year for the Siesta Key Farmers’ Market.
The organic market is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday in Davidson’s Plaza – rain or shine.
TIME HASN’T RUN OUT
Jim Haberman, executive director of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, said last week that VIP packages still are available for the big buffet and fireworks show at the beach on July 4.
He’s hopeful that the parking pass, if nothing else, will entice more area residents into stopping by the chamber to pay the $75 per-person fee. The package includes scrumptious food and cold beverages as well as excellent vantage points for viewing the pyrotechnics.
Proceeds from those VIP packages pay for the fireworks. No taxpayer funds go to this effort, he pointed out.
As of June 25, he said, "we’ve not yet raised sufficient funds to cover the cost of the display."
Some communities, such as Englewood, had to cancel their fireworks shows this year because of the costs. The Siesta chamber has worked really hard to continue its fireworks tradition, in spite of the economy.
The chamber office will be open until 5 p.m. on Friday, July 3, Haberman said. Anyone can stop by until then to purchase VIP tickets.
The chamber office is in Davidson Plaza in Siesta Village. Call 349-3800 or visit www.siestakeychamber.com if you have any questions.
DEDICATION
The gazebo at the intersection of Canal Road and Ocean Boulevard will be the site at 9 a.m. on July 6 of the formal "ribbon cutting" to signify the completion of the village beautification project. All the county commissioners are scheduled to be present.
The gazebo will bear a plaque in memory of Charlie Valentine, the much-loved SKCC executive director who passed away in March. The flagpoles will be dedicated to the equally beloved Capt. Ralph Styles, who passed away in October 2008. The captain had quite a following for his flag-raising and lowering ceremonies at his Beach Road home.
Jack O’Neil, longtime friend of the captain, has opened an account at SunTrust Bank to accept donations for the bronze Styles plaque. Checks may be sent to SunTrust, 5035 Ocean Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34242, made out to John O’Neil or Nancy M. Belardinelli, with the notation that they are for the Capt. Styles Fund.
PAUVRE PLOVERS
As recently as June 17, Michelle van Deventer, the island resident who has volunteered so diligently to keep watch over the nesting snowy plovers on Siesta Public Beach, reported, "Chicks are still hanging in at Access 7 and 8 area. They have doubled in size since hatching last week."
Sadly, just a week later she e-mailed county officials to let them know that both chicks had been lost. The weather, she wrote, was the primary culprit. The heat over Father’s Day weekend brought lots of folks to the beach, and "the extreme high tide [created] less space for birds and people."
Yet, she felt the windy weather that began the afternoon of June 22 was the greatest culprit in the chicks’ demise. "It made it nearly impossible for the chicks to hear the adult vocalizations and vice versa. Without this critical means of communication, it was very difficult for the [adult birds] to keep the chicks safe from the many threats on the beach."
Although no active nests remained as of last week, van Deventer said the four adult pairs were still on the beach. "If any renesting takes place I will provide an update," she wrote.
RANDOM NOTES
Although I seldom receive correspondence regarding personal landmarks relative to the key, two that came in recently serve as excellent reminders about how special this island is to so many folks.
In celebration of resident Ginny Bond’s 80th birthday, she and husband Pete (they’ve been married 60 years) went on a cruise in early June with 40 family members. Upon the couple’s return, 57 family members gathered on Siesta. The Bonds have 10 children, 25 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren – scattered from Florida all the way to Alaska.
Former Honolulu residents and now permanent islanders Guido and Maria Salmaggi celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on June 28. The note I received says "Commendatore Salmaggi was the Vice Consul of Italy for the State of Hawaii for more than 20 years and is also a former opera singer. He has sung our National Anthem for the past 10 presidents of the United States," from FDR through George W. Bush.
"Mrs. Salmaggi built and owned the Polynesian Hotel in Waikiki, Hawaii.
"Both are now retired and enjoying the good life and weather of cozy Siesta Key," the note concluded.
I never cease to be fascinated by the variety of people who find their way to our part of paradise.